Guest guest Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Raksha Bandhan- Aug 30th -Monday ( brother-sister bond)=========================================== Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu custom marking the love and affection between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie colourful 'Rakhi' on the wrists of their brothers and ask their brothers to protect them from harm. Raksha Bandhan represents one of the most sentimental festivals of India. It is based on the emotional ties that bind a brother and sister in a very close bond - the most sacred relationship of life, without any ulterior motive or demand of any kind. Raksha Bandhan is a day of festivity and pure joy. The traditional ceremony of Raksha Bandan with all the customs is done mostly in North Indian families. According to the custom for all festivals and pujas, the lady of the house dresses up early in the morning in fine clothes and bathes the gods and the goddesses. The puja room is swept and cleaned The Puja thaal - with water, roli, rice, flowers, coconut, and Rakhi is placed before the gods. After worshipping the gods the sister applies the tilak on the forehead of her brother, then little rice is stuck onto the tilak. This thread called Rakhi which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the ‘Rakhi’. It means 'a bond of protection', and Raksha Bandhan signifies that the strong must protect the weak from all that’s evil. Raksha Bandhan is known by various names: Vish Tarak - the destroyer of venom, Punya Pradayak - the bestower of boons, and Pap Nashak - the destroyer of sins. Now the traditional thread comes in different designs and different color combinations. Some like it simple and some big and grand. The Rakhi then is tied on the wrists of the brother and the brother acknowledges this relationship by accepting it with grace and love. Sisters also put some "mithai" or "sweet" in his mouth and bless him. With this Rakhi, she grants deep affection and blessings on her brother so as to guard him against all harm, and prays to the Almighty to bless her brother. These feelings are the ones that symbolise Raksha Bandhan. Gifts /Money is then given to the sister by the brother on this occasion is not of any consequence, but only a symbolic gesture RAKSHA BANDHAN is called Avani Avittam in South India. It is on Aug 29 -2004. It is an important Hindu festival. Hindus wear a new holy thread and offer libations of water to the ancient Rishis on this day. Recitation of the Vedas on this great day is highly beneficial. This festival is also known as Upakarmam, and is specially sacred to the Brahmins, who have been invested with the sacred thread. For persons staying far off, sisters send rakhis well in advance by post/courier and also brothers too send their sisters loving gifts. For people who could not send it, there is the Online Rakhi greetings. It is the sentiment and love and care that counts more than the gifts. Raksha Bandan- Aug 30th-Mon New and Improved Mail - Send 10MB messages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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