Rakshabandhan in India

Come 16th August and the entire country will be celebrating Rakshabandhan or Rakhi. There is a lot of significance in the Indian Customs.

RAKHI is nothing but a simple colored thread. Numerous silken threads are woven to make a single thread which is tied on the hand of brother by his sister. This little band signifies that the brother will always stand by her sister and protect her from all the ill wills of this universe.

And like most of the stories, this festival too has a story behind it :
In the Vedic period, on a 'Shravan Poornima' day (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), the deities and the demons were fighting a battle against each other. Unfortunately the demons were in a stronger position as compared to the deities. The king of the deities, Lord Indra, was very much worried about the result of the battle. His wife Indrani (also known by the name Shashikala) could not see him worried and prayed to the almighty. Being religiously inclined, Indrani prepared a Talisman with her religious power and tied it around Indra's right wrist. She believed that this Talisman will safeguard Indra from the attack made by the demons. As it is said when the faith is true, the results come out as per the faith. And so did it happen, Lord Indra came out unhurt. From that day, the festival of Rakhi is celebrated throughout India with full faith.

As the time stands, many of the Kings have kept with their words for a simple thread. As the history tells even the Muslim Leaders have run to save their Hindu Sisters when time demanded. Same runs today. The only difference lies in the time. Today there are no Kings and Queens but the ideology remains the same.

Every year brothers and sisters travel covering long distance to maintain this ideology. A simple thread and a thousand thoughts. As a gratitude the brother presents the sister with a gift as she ties rakhi on his hand. The sister on the other hand, offers sweets to the brother, after putting tilak on the forehead of her brother – be it elder or younger.

Though the ceremony of Rakshabandhan is not a huge one, still it is one of the most important festivals of India.

* Each year Rakshabandhan comes two months before Deepawali (Diwali).It is celebrated all over India, especially in North Indian States like Delhi, Allahabad, Haridwar, Uttarkashi and Agra.

Book your tour to India this Rakshabandhan