Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Raksha Bandhan


Greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. This year Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated @ 2nd August 2012.....

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the emotional bonding between brothers and sisters.

Raksha Bandhan (Hindi: रक्षाबंधन), (the bond of protection), or Rakhi (Hindi: राखी), celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It is also called Rakhi Purnima in certain parts of India, like the south. The festival is observed by Hindus and Jains. The central ceremony involves the tying of a Rakhi (sacred thread) by a sister on her brother's wrist. This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her. The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Purnima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar It grew in popularity after Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of Chittor, sent a Rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun when she required his help.

Observance

The festival is marked by the tying of a Rakhi, or holy thread, which comes in many colors and designs , by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her as she presents sweets to him. The brother usually presents his sister with an envelope filled with money however, other presents such as saris and clothing are also given. The brother and sister traditionally feed one another sweets. These sweets include anything from Jalebi, Kaju Katli, and Burfi. Since north Indian kinship practices give cousins a status similar to siblings, girls and women often tie the Rakhi to their male cousins as well (referred to as "cousin-brothers" in regional parlance) in several communities. Unrelated boys and men who are considered to be brothers (muh-bola bhai or adopted brothers) can be tied rakhis, provided they commit to a lifelong obligation to provide protection to the woman or girl.

Other festivals on this day

In southern & Central parts of India including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Orissa, this day (i.e. Shravan Purnima day), is when the Brahmin community performs the rituals of Avani Avittam or Upakarma.



The chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister is one of the deepest and noblest of human emotions. May this Rakhi further strengthen the bond between brothers and sisters. 

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    Sending Rakhi gifts to Chennai

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