Rakshabandhan
My Memories
Gone are those days when my bhua's and other relatives used to come to our house in sgnr for tying Rakhi. Bhua's used to come from Himachal, Chennai, Hanumangarh, and some others from sngr. Life was fun. I used to play with cousins. Girls used to earn good amount of money. lots of sweets and coconut to eat for kids. All kids wanted the biggest Rakhi on the market. Than they used to compete who has the highest number of Rakhi's. slowely those Rakhies used to torn down and you would have the band only. I used to complain to my mom why only girls get the money on Rakhi as well as Navratrey (Kanchkey). I wanted the money but never got any.
In Canada it's being celebrated but not like India. I have my sister living in the same city so I have the benefit she comes in the morning for 10 minutes and than everyone goes to work after the Rakhi. In India sometimes bhua's used to come for couple of days. Life is changing in India too. It's more like western countries. People are running after money and they like to celebrate Mother's day and Father's day rather than celebrating Rakhi. They like to wear friendship bands on Valentine's Day and Friendship days but not the Rakhi band. They now want the smallest Rakhi and will only wear it for the minimum time that they can.
Gone are those days when kids would fly kites, now they fly the cars and motorcycles on the roads. Lifestyle has changed and so do the people. Some of my friends in Canada are on International student visa, studying in different colleges here. Last week there was an explosion in one of the propane gas facility, and the employee working there was a Punjabi international student from India studying in Sheridan College. Now everyone here is going for the class action law suite against the company for creating pollution and now their home prices will go down in that neighborhood. No one is talking about the person who is dead as he was international student. No one knows him. His family from India can't do anything as they are from a village in Punjab and none of them has a visa. Only Punjabi newspaper is writing about that student and no one else. I think that person was working on cash at that place. Lots of students come to these countries but the life
that they live is very hard. In India these students enjoy their parents wealth, they don't do any work, but in these countries they have to cook the food, work, study and it's so bad for them that most of them start to get into drinking habits and get stressed out. Life is easy as well hard for people. Will leave it here.
It's August 16th, Rakshabandhan. Raksha Bandhan (the bond of protection in Hindi) is a Hindu festival, which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It is celebrated on the full moon of the month of Shraavana.
The festival is marked by the tying of a rakhi, or holy thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The elder brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her same as elder sister return offers to younger brother. The brother and sister traditionally 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 Humayun when she was threatened by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. Humayun abandoned an ongoing military campaign to ride to her rescue.
The rakhi may also be tied on other special occasions to show solidarity and kinship (not necessarily only among brothers and sisters), as was done during the Indian independence movement.
Origins
The origin of the festival is mostly attributed to one of following mythological incidents:
1. Indra's fight with Vritra - Indra, the king of devtas (gods), had lost his kingdom to the asura (demon) Vritra. At the behest of his Guru Brihaspati, Indra's wife Shachi tied a thread around her husband's wrist to ensure his victory in the upcoming duel.
2. Draupadi and Krishna during the Rajsuya yagya - After Shishupal's death, Krishna was left with a bleeding finger. Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, had torn a strip of silk off her sari and tied it around Krishna's wrist to stop the flow of blood. Touched by her concern, Krishna had declared himself bound to her by her love. He further promised to repay the debt many fold. Many years later when Draupudi was about to be shamed by being disrobed in front of the whole court by her evil brother-in-law Duryodhana, she called on Krishna to help her, and he did by divinely elongating her sari so it could not be removed.
History
Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun
One of the earliest origins of Raksha Bandhan in documented history can be traced to the medieval era. During this period the Rajputs were fighting Muslim invasions. Rakhi at that time was a spiritual symbol associated with protection of the sister. History has it that when Queen Karnawati the widow of the then King of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun. The Emperor touched by the gesture, accepted the rakhi thereby accepting Queen Karnawati as a "sister" and immediately started off with his vast troops to protect Queen Karnavati.
The History of Raksha bandhan
There are many references to the significance of the Rakhi festival in Vaishnava Theology.
Vritra-Indra
The origin of this festival is usually traced back to the historical incidents of Indra's fight with Vritra-Indra that resulted in Indra's loss. Then, his wife had tied a thread around his wrist and empowered it with divine powers to make sure Indra emerged victorious in the duel that followed.
Krishna and Draupadi
Another incident is the one that concerns Krishna and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. She had torn a strip of silk off her sari and tied it around Krishna's wrist to stop the flow of blood Krishna was so touched by her action that he found himself bound to her by love. He promised to repay the debt and then spent the next 25 years doing just that. Draupadi in spite of being married to 5 great warriors and being a daughter of a powerful monarch only trusted and depended wholly on Krishna.
Krishna paid the debit of love during Vastra haran of Draupadi. Draupdi's Vastra Haran was done in the assembly of King Dritrashtra,when Yudishter her husband lost her in gamble. At that time Krishna gave her saree (extender her saree) to save her. This is how He paid his debt towards rakhi tied to him by Draupdi.
King Bali and Goddess Laxmi
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 Vaikunth. 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 Shravan Purnima 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 Shravan Purnima for the thread tying ceremony or the Raksha Bandhan.
Yama and the Yamuna
According to another legend, Raksha Bandhan was a ritual followed by Lord Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yamuna. Yamuna tied rakhi to Yama and bestowed immortality. Yama was so moved by the serenity of the occasion that he declared that whoever gets a rakhi tied from his sister and promised her protection will become immortal.
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.
Tying of 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. 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.
Rakhi Purnima
Rakhi is celebrated as Rakhi Purnima in North India as well as in parts of Northwest India. The word "Purnima" means a full moon night.
Nariyal Purnima
In western India and parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa this day is celebrated as Nariyal Purnima. On this day an offering of a coconut (nariyal) is made to the sea, as a mark of respect to Lord Varuna, the God of the Sea. Nariyal Purnima marks the beginning of the fishing season and the fishermen, who depend on the sea for a living, make an offering to Lord Varuna so that they can reap bountiful fish from the sea.
Avani Avittam / Upakarman / Upakarma (Kannada: ಉಪಾಕರ್ಮ)
In southern parts of India including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa, this day is celebrated by the Brahmin community as Avani Avittam. In Karnataka, this day is celebrated as Upakarma(ಉಪಾಕರ್ಮ in Kannada) by the followers of Yajurveda. Upakarma day is the traditional day of the beginning of Vedic studies. As part of the Upakarman/Upakarma ritual, they also change their sacred thread or yajnopavitam, the Sanskrit word for the thread. It is also called "janivaara" (ಜನಿವಾರ) in Kannada, "janeyu" in Hindi, "poonool" in Tamil, " poithe" in Bengali, and "jhanjyam" in Telugu.
Kajari Purnima
In central parts of India such as Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkand and Bihar this day is celebrated as Kajari Purnima. It is an important day for the farmers and women blessed with a son. On the ninth day after Shravana Amavasya, the preparations of the Kajari festival start. This ninth day is called Kajari Navami and varied rituals are performed by women who have sons until Kajri Purnima or the full moon day.
Pavitropana
In parts of Gujarat, this day is celebrated as Pavitropana. On this day people perform the grand pooja or the worship of Lord Shiva. It is the culmination of the prayers done through out the year.
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