Raskha Bandhan

Fast Facts
Region : Celebrated in most part of India especially in North India and Western India.
Celebration Time :Celebrated in the August
Celebrated by : Hindus

Overview
Raksha Bandhan, a festival of the chaste bond of love amongst the siblings is celebrated by Hindus in India and various parts of the world. A special festival dedicated to brothers and sisters, Raksha Bandhan has been celebrated in India for past several centuries. Festival of Raksha Bandhan has its origin dates back to Vedic times and even today it is celebrated by the brothers and sisters in the same traditional way. Raksha Bandhan festival falls on the Shravan Purnima (full moon day of shravan month) which comes usually in the month of August.

Traditionally on this particular day, sisters tie Rakhi (a pious thread) to their brothers, in exchange brothers take vow to save their sisters till death. Apart from tying Rakhi, the sisters offer sweets to their brothers, in exchange the brothers give rupees or other gifts to their sisters. Not only the brothers and sisters, in fact, all family members celebrate this festival. Now a days, those siblings who live at far places and not able to meet on the festive day are taking full advantage of advanced technologies. They express their emotions by sending rakhi greeting cards, e-mails, e-cards via Internet or post. Overall, Rakhi is not only a festival, its a rich cultural aspect of India and a symbol of harmony.

Preparations for the Festival
Preparations for Raksha Bandhan begins around three weeks before the festival. You can see a number of Rakhi shops, Gift shops, Sweet shops, Garment shops in the big cities as well as small town of the county. Sisters throng these stalls and bought the beautiful Rakhis for their brothers. Brothers also visit the gift shops to buy best gifts for their sisters.

Celebrations during the Festival
On the festival day, the celebrations begin by the afternoon. At first all members of the family get ready and gather for the worship. After getting the blessing of the deities, the sisters perform Arti of brothers, puts tika on the forhead and ties colourful Rakhi. Following the Rakhi tying ritual, sister offer sweets and gifts to their brothers. As per tradition, the brothers accept their sister's offerings and vow to take care of her forever life. Besides, the brothers also offer gifts, sweets and some cash to sisters. The celebrations not end here, in addition to these, all members of family relish a variety of delectable food and sweets in an atmosphere of harmony and joy.

Rakhi
Festival of Raksha Bandhan is incomplete without Rakhi, a sacred thread. Rakhis is just a representation of the personal feeling of the sisters and brothers. Usually sisters buy rakhis from shops or they made it themselves in their houses. On the festival day, sisters tie Rakhi on their brother's wrist as a bond of safety and express their heartiest love for their brothers.

Significance of Raksha Bandhan
Since time immemorial, Rakhsa Bandhan holds a high significance in Indian culture and religious traditions. Relationship are the essence of any celebration of India, the celebration of one such relationship is the festival of Raksha Bandhan. In India the affection and love between brother and sister is celebrated in the form of Raksha Bandhan. In fact, Raksha Bandhan encompasses a great significance as it brings the siblings close to each other and increases the emotional bond between them.