Happy Raksha Bandhan

August 2, 2012:

Behana ne bhai ki kalai se pyaar baandha hai,
Resham ki dori se sansaar bandha hai
~ Resham Ki Dori

This Hindi film song pretty much sums up the sentiments afloat in the atmosphere today when sisters are sitting with puja thali in their hands and brothers with their hands stretched forward are waiting for their band of love known as rakhis to be tied to their wrists.

Today is the festival of Raksha Bandhan, an eagerly awaited festival in the Hindu calendar and one of my favorites, dedicated to the brother-sister duo. Literally meaning the ‘The Bond of Protection’, Raksha Bandhan falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Shravan (July-August) and is a unique way of rejoicing the love and care that binds the relation of a brother and sister together, in a single thread - The Rakhi.

A Colorful Rakhi binding relationships

History is replete with countless events that give us a glimpse of this festival in the past. Thus, we have the lore of Lord Indra who emerged victorious after defeating the demons in a tough battle on account of the protective thread that was tied by his consort Indrani, Lord Krishna who repaid his debt to the Pandava wife Draupadi after she had nursed his bleeding cut with a piece of her sari, Emperor Humayun who helped his adopted sister Rani Karnavati by sending a huge part of his troupe in times of need after she had made him his brother or the countless women tying rakhis to their opponents and taking them as their brothers in order to protect their honor and dignity.

A decorative 'Gut' or dry coconut given by sisters in law to her brother's wife
as a token of good wish after tying the rakhi

Today, all of these instances have gradually evolved into a full fledged festival celebrating the brother-sister relationship and emphasize the importance and significance of a thread that might look quite simple in a fleeting glance.

The Build Up to the Festival

Preparations for the festival start well in advance. The Indian Bazaars are decked up with shops and stalls selling vivid, vibrant and colorful rakhis with ornate motifs and attractive intricate designs. Step into one of them and you are literally transported in the middle of a huge rakhi pool.

A Rakhi shop in Mumbai

Colorful Rakhis on display

Sisters - both young and old - get out in hordes and scan various shops enthusiastically in a bid to buy the best rakhi for their brother. The shops on their part stack a huge collection of rakhis to lure these sisters in.

The fascinating display and the diversity in designs that each of the shop showcases makes the job of hunting for a suitable rakhi even tougher.

Here, along with the traditionally plain and simple ones hanging down from the rods...

Simple rakhis on sale

you also find the super-heroics spiderman and small Hanumans that your kid brothers so love flaunting,

Cute little Rakhis loved by the kids

and of course, how can the most-sought-afters be left behind - all of them are creatively done and draw you in with their eye catching  patterns and prints,

Attractive Rakhi patterns

And there are many many more,

Multihued Rakhis

With the price for these ranging anywhere between Rs. 5 to anything on the upper side, the best thing about them is that their scale is so wide that you can never return home empty handed – there is one for everyone!

Talking of shopping, the brothers don’t have a breather either. They set out to buy presents that they can gift their sisters on the Rakhi Day.

The D-Day Arrives...

Finally, the much awaited day arrives calling for festive family get togethers and jolly merriment. The festival does not limit itself with the traditional combo of brother and sister but takes into its realms the entire family. Such is the beauty of this festival. Thus, rakhis are tied by aunts to sister in laws, to nieces and nephews and by sisters to cousin brothers.

Lumbas, tied to women... by aunts to sister in laws and nieces

It is a festival with no elaborate rituals and traditions and is simply observed reflecting the very simplicity that we see in the soul of the relationship itself.

Hatches are buried to make way for joyous smiles; innocent bickering are left behind for warm hugs and heartfelt wishes... the sister ties her rakhi onto the wrist of her brother and prays for his prosperity and success throughout his life. Sweets are exchanged, big wide smiles flashed. He, in turn, gifts her something she likes, with a promise that He will always be there by her side for her protection and security whenever she will need him.

The sacred bond of Raksha Bandhan

Thus, a simple festival culminates...

With affectionate feelings of love, companionship and camaraderie...

And with a reassuring affirmation that a delicate bond of love will be held tightly,

Come what may...

Happy Raksha Bandhan :-)

PS: Please excuse me for interrupting the Japan series in between. Will continue with it shortly.