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Introduction

Raksha Bandhan :

Raksha Bhandan is celebrated on the full-moon day in the month of Shravan (July-August). The festival of Raksha Bandhan symbolizes love affection and feeling of brotherhood.

“Raksha” means protection, and “Bandhan” means bond, therefore, when a sister ties a Rakhi around the wrist of her brother, she signifies her loving attachment to him. The brother extends his wrist forward signifying an extending hand of protection. Raksha Bandhan is also known as Rakhi.

According to one legend, when the demon King Bali’s devotion won over Lord Vishnu, he was compelled to leave his abode to stay in Bali’s Kingdom. When Lord Vishnu did not return, the distressed Goddess Lakshmi arrived in Sutal on Shravan Poornima. She accepted King Bali as her brother by tying a Rakhi on him.

In return Bali asked her to request a wish. Goddess Lakshmi wished for Lord Vishnu’s return to Vaikunth. Bali granted her the wish. It is thus believed that the festival of Rakhi commenced from the day when Goddess Lakshmi tied the Rakhi on King Bali.

According to another legend, the Gods decided to fight the demons again after they lost a war against the demons. Even Lord Indra lost the battle against the demons and was depressed. On this occasion, Indra’s wife took a thread, charged it with sacred verses or Mantras and tied it on his wrist, after telling him the story of Raksha Bandhan. Indra then attained victory against the demons.

Raksha Bandhan holds special significance for the Hindus. Girls make it a point to bring the best possible rakhis for their brothers. They busy themselves with the preparation of traditional sweets and dishes. After an early bath and worshipping God, the sister offers “aarti” to her brother and ties the sacred thread on his wrist. The sister adorns her brother’s forehead with the traditional tikli (vermilion). The brother gives his sister a gift after she ties the rakhi. The gift is symbolic of the brother’s blessings to his sister.

The Rakhi

Rakhi is a sacred thread made out of traditional silk thread or any other material. To beautify the rakhi some design is weaved on the thread. Nowadays Rakhis are decorated with soft silky threads of various colours, and also with ornaments, pictures, gold and silver threads etc.

Preparations for the festival begin well in advance. The markets wear a festive look with the colourful, ornate and dazzling 'Rakhis' hanging loose or put on display for sale in shops that specially come up for this occasion.

Every year new designs of rakhis can be seen in the shops. They come with small painted mirrors and beads or made of spices like cardamom and clove or grains of rice, corn, etc, adding more variety to the traditional rakhi. The myriad range of rakhis is breathtaking.

See Also Hindu Festivals Celebrated in Goa:

( Chovoth | Diwali | Gokulashtami | Holi | Lairai Jatra | Nagpanchami | Gudi Padwa | Raksha Bandhan | Ram Navmi | Vasco Saptah | Chikhalkala )