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RakshaBandhan
History and Rituals
From the time of
ancient Indian civilization Raksha Bandhan symbolizes
the spiritual bonding between brothers and sisters.
Brothers takes oath to protect their sisters and sisters
prays to god for safety and well being of their
brothers. Raksha Bandhan basically a ritual where
sisters tie a string called "Rakhi" in
the wrist of their brothers to protect them from evil
and wishing them well being. In return brothers prays
for sisters and takes oath to protect her.
In 300BC when King Alexander attached India, he stepped
back by the heroic effort by the Indian King Puru for
the first time. Knowing this Wife of Alexander
approached King Puru with Rakhi and King Puru accepted
her as sister. After that when next war took place King
Puru kept the promise made to her Greek sister and
refrained from King Alexander. This is the oldest
incident came to know about Raksha Bandhan.
In 15th century the Raksha Bandhan come up with a new
dimension when Famous Mughal emperor Humayun got a Rakhi
from Rani Karnawatee of Chittor. The incident happens
when Bahadur Shah, The Sultan of Gujrat invaded Chittor
and just widowed queen of Maharaja of Chittor found no
way to defend, she sent a Rakhi to Mughal Badshah
Humayun, and touched by the warmth of the brother sister
relationship Badshah Humayun marched for Chittor to save
Rani Karnawatee.
The most recent reference of Raksha Bandhan as social
revolutionary ritual found when in 1905 British empire
decided to break Bengal, a state of British India in
parts in basis of religion. Kaviguru Rabindra Nath
Tagore arranged a ceremony to celebrate Raksha Bandhan
to unite both Hindu and Muslim people of Bengal and
launch a protest against British empire.
Now a day Raksha Bandhan celebrated as a ritual between
brothers and sisters with the same ancient thought of
love, well wishing and protection.
The ritual of Raksha Bandhan consists of tieing up Rakhi
by sisters on the wrist of the brother. Then sister
prays for brothers well being and brother takes oath to
protect his sister under and adverse circumstances.
After that brother gifts something to sister to mark the
occasion.
Raksha Bandhan basically celebrated in full moon called "Rakhi
Purnima". In different parts of India Raksha
Bandhan celebrated in different names.
In northern and western part of India Rakhi celebrated
in "Rakhi Purnima".
In Western Ghats it calls "Nariyel Purnima" to signify the full moon like coconut.
In southern part of the India Rakhi celebrated as "Avani
Avittam / Upakarmam".
Central India celebrates it as "Kajari
Purnima".
Far western part of the India celebrates it as "Pavitrapana". |
