Rakhi (Rakshabandhan) Traditions from Indian History

Rakshabandhan is a unique festival of India. It has been celebrated for ages and is still hugely popular today.

Image Source: Google

On the occasion of Rakshabandhan, brothers and sisters pray for the well being of each other, and wish them happiness and goodwill. The sisters perform an aarti ceremony before their brothers and then tie the sacred thread Rakhi, on their wrists. The Rakhi was traditionally a simple cotton or silk thread usually woven at home, but nowadays the markets are flooded with ready-made Rakhi threads in fancy designs. The Rakhi is the most significant part of the festival and Rakshabandhan is also popularly known as Rakhi festival. In Indian traditions, the Rakhi has a very important place. It is considered that when a woman ties the thread on anyone, he naturally becomes honor bound to treat her like his real sister and safeguard her from all harm. Many instances from Indian history illustrate this glorious tradition. Rani Karnawati, the widowed queen of Chittor sent a Rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun when the kingdom of Chittor was being attacked by Bahadur Shah. Touched by this gesture, Humayun is said to have set out immediately with his army to aid the queen of Chittor. Even Alexander the Great during was protected in battlefield by an honor-bound King Porus after he was tied a Rakhi by Alexander’s wife.

The tradition of helping and safeguarding is an act of the pledge taken by the brothers to keep and protect their sisters from all harm in return of the Rakhis. Traditionally it was only the brothers who present their sisters with gifts, but these days the sisters’ too present gifts to their brothers. The custom of gifts is very important and brothers everywhere, make sure their sisters receive the most delightful gifts on the occasion. And even when they cannot be present in person they still send Rakhi gifts for sister through postal or courier services.

Nowadays, there are also numerous shopping websites providing Rakhi delivery services to destinations all over the country and the world. The web portals feature varied Rakhi gift ideas for sister from where one can choose the best gifts and send them to their siblings for Rakshabandhan.