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The
festivals of Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is widely celebrated
by Hindus in order to strengthen the bond between a brother and a sister.
Raksha means security and Bandhan means relation or bond. Raksha Bandhan,
therefore, means a "bond of security" that is renewed between a brother
and sister.
On the day of Raksha Bandhan each girl ties a thread (known as Rakhi)
on the wrist of her brother. In return the brother gives a gift (usually
cash) to the sister to indicate the acceptance of the Rakhi. By accepting
this thread the brother pledges to support and protect his sister in time
of distress. This tradition of tying the thread by girl continues even
after she is married. If the brother and sister cannot meet each other
on the day of Raksha Bandhan, the Rakhis and the gifts are exchanged via
mail.
If a girl does not have a brother, she can offer to tie Rakhi (or send
by mail) on the wrist of any man and if accepted by the man, he becomes
her adopted brother for the rest of his life. If a girl adopts someone
as her brother on Raksha Bandhan, she must tie or send a Rakhi to her
adopted brother every year thereafter.
The origin of the festival or Raksha Bandhan can be traced to Mahabharatha.
In order to punish Shishupala for his repeated criminal offenses and sinful
deeds, Lord Krishna threw a celestial weapon at Shishupala. In the process
of throwing the weapon Krishna injured his own finger, which bled profusely.
At that moment Draupadi tore a piece of her sari to wrap it around Krishna's
finger, stopping the bleeding. For Draupadi's favor Krishna promised her
his help in the hour of need. Later Krishna kept his word when he came
to Draupadi's rescue while she was being dishonored by the Kauravas following
the game of the dice between the Pandavas and Kauravas.
A piece of Draupadi's sari was the first Rakhi that gave rise to the festival
of Raksha Bandhan. Later this festival gained further popularity in India
in the old days of foreign domination when the womenfolk needed protection.
By performing a simple rite of thread-binding, a woman had the opportunity
to claim any man as her brother, who was then obliged to protect her honour
even at the cost of his life. This thread-binding ceremony is so sacred
that even the ancient Muslims ruler of India, Humayun, could not resist
his responsibility to protect the Hindu princess Karmavati, who had sent
him a Rakhi.
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