Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. The festival is observed on the full moon day or Purnima in the Hindu calendar month of Shravana, which corresponds to the Gregorian calendar month of August. The term "Raksha Bandhan" translates to "bond of protection" in Sanskrit. The rituals vary across geographic locations, but they all incorporate the tying of a thread. The sister (or sister-like figure) ties a colorful, sometimes ornate, thread on her brother’s wrist, signifying her prayers and well wishes for her brother. The brother then gives his sister a thoughtful gift.
The origins of Raksha Bandhan are not entirely clear, but mentions of the festival date back to 326 BCE in legends of Alexander the Great. There are also several mentions of Raksha Bandhan in Hindu scriptures, including the Mahabharata, which tells the story of Lord Krishna and Draupadi. According to the story, Lord Krishna once cut his finger, which started bleeding. Seeing this, Draupadi tore a piece of cloth from her saree and tied it around his finger to stop the bleeding. In return, Lord Krishna promised to protect her. This act of Draupadi tying a piece of cloth on Krishnas wounded finger is synonymous with Raksha Bandhan.
Another popular story behind Raksha Bandhan is the story of Rajputana Rani Karnavati and Mughal Emperor Humayun. In the medieval era, Rajputs were fighting and protecting their kingdom from Muslim invasions. Rani Karnawati was the widowed queen of the king of Chittor. She realized that she could not protect her kingdom from the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah. So, she sent a rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun, who was known to be a chivalrous and noble king. Humayun was touched by the gesture and immediately set out to protect her kingdom.
Today, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated by Hindus around the world to honor the love and duty between brothers and sisters. The festival has acquired greater importance due to Hindi films, and lightweight and decorative rakhis, which are easy to post, are needed in large quantities by the market to cater to brothers and sisters living in different parts of the country or abroad.
