Raksha Bandhan 2024, Rituals and Traditions,

Raksha Bandhan 2024: A Celebration of Sibling Bond

Raksha bandhan is one of the greatest festival of Hindus which is celebrated with great joy and pleasure to to show the beautiful bond of brother and sister. It is celebrated in this year on the August 19, 2024. It is now about time that we take our break and understand the history of the destination, it meaning and the traditional practices that are associated with this occasion.

History of Raksha Bandhan

The celebration goes back to the Vedic antiquity of the Indic existence. Nevertheless, it has been discussed in terms of myths and historical allegories for a very long time. According to a folklore there was once a queen Karnavati of Gujarat sending rakhi to imperator Humayun for protection against Bahadur Shah’s attack. The moment Humayun answered back, and paid his obeisance to the impress of the sacred thread, which remained his part as a protector.

There is another story related with Raksha Bandhan which has connection with the gigantic epic of India, Mahabharat. Some of the legends have it that, Draupadi daughter to Drupada one of the wives to the Pandavas was able to use a piece of cloth to stop the flow of blood after Krishna had been wounded. In return, to her, Krishna vowed to shield her.

Significance of Raksha Bandhan

Therefore, Raksha Bandhan is the festive demonstration of the unique and unblemished bond of love and security between a sister and a brother. His small sister then puts a Rakhi – a sacred and small thin round it by the wrist of his brother, simultaneously chanting a small prayer for the good health of the brother. Thus, the brother offers to protect her from anything that may come the sister’s way.

Beyond the literal meaning, Raksha Bandhan represents:However, its symbolic meaning is:

Unconditional love: Families especially as between the brothers and sisters rejoice and celebrate the tender loving touch that the Siblings festival bring to them.

Protection: In other words, the brooking of a man to protect sisters is one of the traditions which have been set.

Unity: It ensures oneness and creates togetherness within the family and or persons hence becoming one big family.

Sacrifice: The food prepared, the manner in which the sister rushed to her brother’s help not forgetting praying for him to be well is selfless.

Raksha Bandhan has following religious aspects: Raksha Bandhan has following religious aspects:

Even though there is Hindu origin, the mere concept of Raksha Bandhan is loved by people of other regions as brother-sister bond is heartening. But it is the celebration of the decent and sympathetic side of man, which is not confined to the religions.

It is accompanied in honour of the Hindu gods and goddesses where association with Krishna and Draupadi as was said earlier is the most often mentioned. From where I stood, there is credibility on the fact that thru the conducts of certain rituals, the performance of fasts on this day, one can invoke divine blessings.

Rituals and Traditions

The major celebration call for the sister to tie a Rakhi on the wrist of her brother and there is sharing of gifts. However, it has been noted the celebrations vary across different regions of the country, that is India.

Tying the Rakhi: It is for this reason that with her eyes closed the sister ties this Rakhi on the right hand of the brother reciting some mantras in a bid to make the brother Alright and safe.

Applying Tilak: The brother takes the tilak on his sister’s forehead and it is simply meant like a sign of blessing.

Exchange of Gifts: The brother in the story out of affection deems it necessary to carry along some gifts to his sister as a way of expressing his affection on her.

Feast: This is done through preparation and taking of special meal which is mostly consumed with the family.

Raksha Bandhan as it is celebrated in the modern age

However, what should be marked here is that in many ways, the contemporary Raksha Bandhan need not be confined to the brother-sister bond merely. The festival is now over friends only, between cousins and in some cases between a master and a disciple. It has also emerged to have massive meaning in the area of fellowship or support.

Although most of the reflected beliefs were obvious in the early days, today’s people have incorporated some variants. To this, people engage in local & long distance carding, messaging and online gift sending, especially sending gifts to a sibling.

Unlike the feelings expressed by the people that indeed Raksha Bandhan 2024 is a great festival to celebrate the bond with one’s siblings is erroneous. This is the right time to express how you feel about him/her or her about you and you intention of being together.