In celebration of a Bond………….

It is that time of the year when everybody is busy preparing themselves for the upcoming festivities in the month of August, which includes the much awaited festival of Raksha Bandhan. It is that time of the year when sisters throng the shops to buy beautifully embroidered rakhis for their beloved brothers, as a symbol of their eternal bond. As per the traditions the sisters tie a rakhi (a holy thread) around their brothers' wrists. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her. This ritual not only strengthens the bond of love between the brother and a sister but it also transcends to the family. The origin of rakhi has a mythologocal background. Indra, the king of the devtas had lost his kingdom to a demon Vritra. At the behest of his guru Brihaspati, Indra’s wife Sachi tied a thread on his wrist to ensure his victory at the upcoming duel.

This auspicious occasion of raksha bandhan is celebrated on full moon of the month of Shravana, according to the Hindu calender. This festival is very colorful, vivacious and expressive. It is not necessary that the rakhi can be given only to a blood brother - any male can be "adopted" as a brother by tying a rakhi on the person’s right hand, precisely the wrist. 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 Humayun when she was threatened by Bahadur Shah of Mewar. Humayun abandoned an ongoing military campaign to ride to her rescue.

Though in the present age the word “Raksha” which means protection is not much in vogue, but still it remains as a popular festival promoting love and bonding amongst siblings. Young girls especially look forward to this festival as an occasion for receiving gifts, while adults take this opportunity to remember their siblings who are becoming more and more distant. But not to worry, technology solves that problem too. Rakhi designs have also kept up with time, technology and most importantly the taste.The best part about this festival is the gifts and the cuisine, which simply lights up the occasion. The ladoos, the gulab jamuns, the pista barfis simply stimulate the salivary glands, and I am sure noboby even thinks about the calories and its consequences.

To quote Susan Scarf Merrell” Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk.” They are the people who are the best friends, the best judges and the best critics we can ever have. So, heres wishing all the brothers and sisters and the ones who have lost out on one the exquisite pleasures of life, a very happy “Raksha Bandhan”.