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Home > Other Astrological Information > Events / Festivals > Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan
Come the full moon day in the month of Sravana Poornima, people across India celebrate one of the most awaited festival – the Rakhi or the Raksha Bandhan. The festival represents the relationship between brothers and sisters. The festival is celebrated tying a Rakhi or a holy thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and promises to take care of her as long as he lives. Traditionally, they both feed each other sweets.
It is not necessary that the rakhi can be given only to a brother by birth; any male can be "adopted" as a brother by tying a rakhi on the person, that is blood brothers and sisters, whether they are cousins or a good friend. Indian history is replete with women asking for protection, through rakhi, from men who were neither their brothers, nor Hindus themselves. Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to the Mughal Emperor Humayn when she was threatened by Bahadur Shah of Mewar. Humayun abandoned an ongoing military campaign to ride to her rescue. The origin of the festival is mostly attributed that Draupadi and Krishna during the Rajsuya Yaga, after Shishupal's death, Krishna was left with a bleeding finger. Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas had torn a strip of silk of her Sari and tied it around Krishna's wrist to staunch the flow of blook. Touched by her concern, Krishna declared himself bound to her by her love. He promised to repay the debt manifold. After a lapse of several years when Draupudi was about to be shamed by being disrobed in front of the whole court by her evil brother in law Duryodhana, she prayed Lord Krishna to help her and did by divinely elongating her sari so that it could not be remove. According to another legend the Demon King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu had taken up the task to guard his kingdom leaving his own abode in Vaikunta. Goddess Lakshmi wished to be with her lord back in her abode. She went to Bali disguised as a Brahmin woman to seek refuge till her husband came back. During the Sravana Poornima celebrations, Lakshmi tied the sacred thread to the King. Upon being asked she revealed who she was and why she was there. The king was touched by her goodwill for his family and her purpose and requested the Lord to accompany her. He sacrificed all he had for the Lord and his devoted wife. Thus the festival is also called Baleva that is Bali Raja''s devotion to the Lord. It is said that since then it has been a tradition to invite sisters in Sravana Poornima for the thread tying ceremony or the Raksha Bandhan Celebrations in India.
While Raksha Bandhan is celebrated all over the country, different parts of the country mark the day in different ways. These celebrations happen to fall on the same day, and may not have anything to do with Raksha Bandhan itself or Rakhi. Perhaps the single most important way of celebrating Raksha Bandhan is by tying the rakhi. A sister ties a rakhi to the wrist of her brother. The tying of a rakhi signifies her asking of her brother for his protection and love for the sister. The brother in turn, accepts the rakhi, confirms his love and affection for his sister and shows this with gifts and money. It is a family event where all members of family, dressed in finery, gather and celebrate. The tying of rakhi is followed by a family feast.