Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the bond of love and protection between brothers and sisters, marked by the tying of a sacred thread called rakhi. The festival emphasizes familial commitment and is accompanied by rituals that include prayers, offerings, and the exchange of gifts. Variations of celebration exist throughout India, but the central theme remains the strengthening of bonds and expressions of affection between siblings.

1. Raksha Bandhan

2. Raksha Bandhan
A Hindu Festival
when
Brothers and Sisters
strengthen and celebrate their love and
commitment to each other.

4. Raksha Bandhan
• Rakhi: The Thread of Love
• In India, festivals are the celebration of
togetherness, of being one of the family.
• Raksha Bandhan is one such festival that is all
about affection, fraternity and other sacred and
sublime sentiments.
• This is an occasion to lavish love, care, affection
and commitment towards each other and
• To strengthen families and develop a sacred feeling
of sisterly / brotherly devotion and oneness.

6. The Bond of Protection
• At this festival, sisters tie a sacred thread
called a Raksha or Rakhi around the
wrist of their brother as part of a ‘Puja’ or
service of worship.
• What exactly is the power of this thread
and what does Raksha Bandhan mean?
• Raksha is the Sanskrit term for protection
and Bandhan signifies a tie or
relationship, so Raksha Bandhan in effect
signifies a bond of protection between
two people.

8. Protection
• It is believed that when a woman ties a
Rakhi to the wrist of a man on the festive
day of Raksha Bandhan, he is then bound to
protect and help her throughout his life. But
the bond of protection is not a one way
process. The Rakhi is thought to have a dual
effect.
• For the man the Rakhi ensures protection by
the heavenly forces. In fact, during times of
war, women have tied Rakhis to unknown
soldiers so that they will be protected from
harm, and so they will be victorious and
successful in protecting the nation.

11. At Purnima (full moon)
in the month of Shraavana
(it usually falls in August)
the shops fill with Rakhi
and Greetings Cards
Sisters can buy
Ready-made
‘Raki’but
many prefer to
make their
own.

14. How Raksha Bandhan is celebrated.
• India is a vast country and the practises vary
slightly from one part to another but this sacred
thread is given as part of a ritual of worship. It is
said that the small thread is stronger than an iron
chain because it symbolises the unbreakable love
that brother and sister feel for each other.
• Preparations begin weeks before hand as the house is
cleaned and both sisters and brothers may want to wear
new clothes, so there is shopping to do – for clothes and
cards and the Rakhi itself to buy or make. The brothers will
be choosing or making presents to give their sisters too.
• The sisters may have her hands decorated with Mendhi
patterns.Mendhi patterns are popular for any special
occasion.
• As with most things, the more effort you put into
preparation, the better the result is likely to be.

16. Practical Rituals of Raksha
Bandhan
• On the day of Raksha Bandhan, each sister will tie a raksha (rakhi
in Hindi) on the right wrist of her brother(s).
• Before that, she will perform the following rituals of puja because it
is a sacred ceremony. Puja is an act of Hindu worship.
• Some Hindus might describe the inner meaning of Raksha Bandhan
as a pledge to each other made in the ‘sight’ or ‘presence of God’
blessed by God – as a way also of strengthening their own inner
relationship with God and opening themselves to His Protection.
• All the things needed for the ceremony are laid
out on a tray beforehand.
• A lamp or candle is lit. Incense sticks are lit, all
making for an atmosphere of prayer and
worship.
• Puja often begins by ringing a bell or blowing a
conch-shell trumpet.

20. Celebrating Raksha Bandhan continued
• First the sister will make a mark on her brother’s
forehead with a coloured powder called kumkum. This is
usually made from powdered turmeric or saffron which is
yellow. (If it is mixed with lime (an alkali) it gives a bright
red colour. The shops sell powders of many other
colours too.)
• Kumkum is most often applied by Hindus to the forehead. The
reason for this particular location has to do with the ancient Hindu
teaching that “the human body is divided into seven vortices of
energy, called chakras, beginning at the base of the spine and
ending at the top of the head.
• The sixth chakra, also known as the third eye, is centered in the
forehead directly between the eyebrows and is the channel through
which humankind opens spiritually to the Divine”.
• Thus the kumkum is placed at the location of the body which Hindus
believe to be the most holy and it reminds them that we have two
outer eyes to see the outer physical world, but there is another world
– the inner spiritual world – which is also important. We need to
open our inner eye to see that.

23. Celebrating Raksha Bandhan – continued -
• In some families, the sister then places a flower garland
around her brother’s neck, a garland which she will
probably have made herself (girls who are old enough to
use a needle and thread). You can buy flowers to use to
make the garlands, in the market.
• The sister then may take the lamp or candle which is usually placed
on a tray used for worship – and circle this in front of her brother.
The candle-flame represents God’s Light and human aspiration - the
way our inner cry reaches up towards God in prayer.
• The flame also symbolises Agni, the Fire God who is invoked during
most ceremonies of worship in Hinduism. The sister may sing a
special puja song at that time. But since many of the sisters are
quite young children, not old enough to handle candles and incense
safely or know the puja songs, this part is not always carried out.
• Next is the most important part of the puja. The sister
ties the rakhi on her brother’s right wrist.
• Finally, the sister feeds her brother – usually placing a
whole sweet in his mouth.

30. Celebrating Raksha Bandhan – continued -
• A brother may place his hand on his sister’s head which is a
way of giving blessings and conveying the deepest love and
respect – a symbolic gesture to show he appreciates the
significance of the event and he really will be there for his
sister should she ever need his help.
• Then, in In return for his sister’s devotion, the brother
presents a gift to his sister.
• Later that day the whole family celebrate together. They may
go to visit- or welcome visiting– relatives and end the day
with a party or a special meal.
• There is usually a great atmosphere of joy,
oneness, friendship and love.
• This exchange of Raksha Bandhan’s is not restricted to
sister and brother. It represents a bond and a relationship so
it may be celebrated to strengthen (brotherly rather than
romantic) friendships, too.

44. We would like to ackowledge
and thank the many online sources viewed
in preparing this resource, especially
the websitehttp://www.raksha-bandhan.com
I hope that all whose photographs have
been used will be happy and proud to be
included in this free resource - but should
any copyright questions arise we will be
happy to make any adjustments necessary.

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