Rakhi - Its History and Significance

Significance of Rakhi

India is the land of festivals. Rakhi is one of the important festivals and is celebrated with a lot of pomp and splendor. It is one of the important festivals which commemorate the love between brother and sister. The day of Raksha Bandhan has a lot of significance because it is on this day that a sister ties a thread on the hand of a brother and prays for his wellbeing, prosperity and long life. In turn, the brother vows to protect her sister from all sorts of evil. Rakhi follows the lunar calendar and is celebrated on a full moon day of the lunar month, Shravan. The festival generally falls in the month of August every year. The festival of Rakhi is held according to the lunar calendar and is celebrated on a full moon day of Shravan, the lunar month. The significance of the festival reaches far beyond the trying of Rakhi on the hand of the brother by the sister. It is the time for family reunion and exchange of pleasantries. Relatives and friends drop down for a grand lunch or dinner. Rakhi shopping is a big affair and the market gets dressed up for the big event. Rakhi shopping not only includes buying gifts for the occasion but a feeling of happiness. There is a sense of brotherhood which is transmitted all around. The bonhomie is not only restricted within the near ones but is spread among all. The spirit of Rakhi lies in a never ending bond which binds everybody irrespective of differences. The significance of the festival lies in its high emotional value which can not be compared with any thing else. Sending Rakhi to all hightens the spirit of oneness which makes our planet a better place to live in.

History of Rakhi

The festival of Rakhi has been celebrated over the ages. There is reference to this event in “The Mahabharata”. Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pancha Pandavas asked Lord Shri Krishna about ways to evade the evils which are affecting his life. Krishna replied that things will be better if he observes the Rakshaa Ceremony. This is one of the early references to Rakhi.

During the Vedic Period, on the day of 'Shravan Poornima' the demons and the deities were engaged in a grim battle. The demons were in a strong position and the deities suffered losses. Indra, the king of deities was worried about the outcome of the battle. His wife Indrani could not see his pain and prayed to god. Being a religious lady herself, she prepared a talisman and tied it around the right wrist of Indra. This talisman helped Indra win the battle. As the talisman had the power to protect it was called "Raksha Sutra" and the ceremony of tying it was called "Raksha Bandhan".

Rajput Queen Kanwarvati sent a Rakhi to Humayun, the Sultan of Gujarat fearing a possible Muslim invasion under Bahadur Shah to defend her from a possible danger. The Emperor responded to the call of his 'sister' and rallied to save her with his troops.

With the coming of Rabindranath Tagore Rakhi got a new meaning. During the partition of Bengal in 1905 this great poet came to the forefront in protest. To create a sense of universal brotherhood among the people he suggested the "Rakhi Bandhan" ceremony. The ceremony united rich and poor against the evil designs of the British rulers and started a movement which rocked the Empire. After Rabindranath Tagore, the festival of Rakhi changed its form manifold. Today rakhi is no more about sending mere rakhi threads to India . The rakhi threads to India have also changed their form and have become fascinating. However, the real essence is always the same. It is the day for celebrating endless love between brothers and sisters. It is also the day to express widespread love for all human beings. With a rich history and tradition Rakhi is the time of the year for loads of love and for sending rakhi to india. One can send rakhi to India and other gifts to express the way he or she feels for their brother or sister. Sending Rakhi is all about a happiness which cannot be explained in general terms.