Raksha Bandhan 2010

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in India as well as abroad with a lot of enthusiasm. It is a festival that strengthens the bonds of a brother and sister. The sister ties a rakhi on the wrist of her brother to show her love and affection for him. The Rakhi is a symbol of protection, that the sister feels she is well protected by her brother. She prays for his long life. The brother in turn reciprocates his feelings by ensuring his protection for her safety and promising her that he would help her in her need of hour.

The festival falls on Sharvan Purnima (full moon in the month of Shravan), which normally falls in the month of August.





This legend makes a reference to the war between Gods and the demons. Brutra, the demon king was advancing forward, while Gods led by Lord Indra were lagging behind, in fact were almost being defeated. Lord Indra then approached Guru Brihaspati for a solution to the given situation. Brihaspati asked Lord Indra to tie the sacred thread, which has been powered by sacred mantras on the Shravan Purnima. Queen Sacchi, Lord Indra’s wife also called upon Indrani, tied the empowered thread on the day decided upon. This power of the sacred thread known as Raksha protected the Gods.



Legend of King Bali and Goddess Laxmi

Demon King was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Leaving his own abode the Vaikunth, Lord Vishnu was willing to guard Bali’s kingdom. Goddess Laxmi wanted to be with her Lord at his abode. She went to Bali as Brahmin women to be there till her husband’s return.

On Shravan Purnima day she tied the sacred thread. When asked who she was by King Bali, she revealed her identity and about her wanting to be with her husband. Immediately, King Bali asked Lord Vishnu to return to his abode and made the sacrifice because of his love and respect for Lord Vishnu and his wife Laxmi.




The festival is called Baleva in remembrance of King Bali’s devotion for Lord Vishnu. Since then it became a tradition to invite sisters to tie the sacred thread Rakhi.

The legend of Yama and Yamuna

Raksha Bandhan happened to be a ritual performed by Lord Yama (Lord of Death) and his sister Yamuna. Sister Yamuna tied the Rakhi to bestow immortality on Lord Yama. This gesture of Yamuna moved Lord Yama who declared that in future any sister who tied the knot would be well protected.

Epic version

In the Mahabharata, Raksha Bandhan is mentioned, Lord Krishna instructs Yudhistir to carry out the ceremony in order to protect himself from the dangers that one would face by the war. Kunti, it is stated, tied the sacred thread on her grandson Abhimanyu and Draupadi did so to Lord Krishna.

Celebration of Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with great fervor and joy. Rakhi are tied by sisters on their brother’s wrists. Sisters cook special dishes and sweets for their brothers, who in turn give them gifts. It is time for family reunion. The Rakhi protections has been extended to other family members as well and society as a whole. Rakhi Utsavs, which popularized by Rabindranath Tagore, promoted the feeling of unity and togetherness among all community members. In the present day scenario, the festival is an occasion to pledge oneself to uphold moral values, cultural and spiritual values.

Rituals of Raksha Bandhan

Rakhis are bought much in advance and also sweets are prepared well before Purnima. People take a bath early in the morning before beginning preparations to purify their body and mind. The sisters get the thali ready for the puja. It contains the rakhi, rice grains, kum kum powder, agarbathis, diya( an earthen or a metal lamp used as a lamp) and sweets.




The offerings are made to the family God. Then the sister performs arti to the brother and then the rakhi is tied by her. She puts the tilak on his forehead (kumkum) and offers him sweets. While doing this she also chants for his well-being. The brother blesses her and informs her that he would always protect her from evil. He gifts her.

The rituals can vary from region to region, but the ethos is the same.

Raksha Bandhan is indeed a festival which depicts the love of a sister for her brother, with latter promising to protect her at all times. It is celebrated by all sisters with great devotion and a spirit of affection.