Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi or Rakri, is a precious festival celebrated primarily by Hindus, though its value exceeds religious and cultural boundaries. The festival celebrates the deep bond of love and duty between brothers and sisters and has been celebrated for centuries in India and across the world. Over time, Raksha Bandhan symbolizes familial love and the broader concept of protection and care between different communities.
What Is Raksha Bandhan?
The term “Raksha Bandhan” translates to “the knot of protection” in Sanskrit, capturing the essence of the festival. On this day, a sister ties a rakhi (a colourful, sometimes ornate thread) around her brother’s wrist to symbolise her love, prayers, and well wishes for his well-being. In return, the brother promises to protect and support her throughout her life. This simple ritual represents the essence of sibling relationships – love, protection, and mutual respect.
Why Raksha Bandhan Is Celebrated?
While the ritual of tying a rakhi is the festival’s centrepiece, Raksha Bandhan is also marked by joyous family gatherings, festive meals, and the exchange of gifts. The markets brim with vibrant rakhis of all designs and colours and the air is filled with songs celebrating sibling love. For many, Raksha Bandhan is a day of family reunions and celebration, where grown-ups reconnect with childhood memories and children engage in playful teasing and creativity.
Raksha Bandhan Stories
The history of Raksha Bandhan is steeped in various legends and stories, each offering a unique perspective on the festival’s importance. These stories highlight the importance of sibling bonds and impart moral lessons that continue to resonate with people of all ages.
Raksha Bandhan Story of Krishna and Draupadi
One of the most well-known stories associated with Raksha Bandhan comes from the grand Indian epic, the Mahabharata. Krishna, the divine protector and guide of the Pandavas, shared a deep bond of friendship and respect with Princess Draupadi, the Pandavas’ wife.
During a courtly incident, Krishna injured his finger while using his Sudarshan Chakra to kill Shishupal, a relative who had overstepped his bounds. Seeing Krishna’s injury, Draupadi instinctively tore a piece of her sari and wrapped it around his finger to stop the bleeding. Touched by this gesture, Krishna promised to protect Draupadi whenever she needed him. This promise was fulfilled when Draupadi was humiliated in the Kaurava court. As Dushasana tried to disrobe her, Draupadi’s sari miraculously became endless, preserving her dignity. This miraculous event is believed to be Krishna’s repayment for the rakhi-like gesture Draupadi had shown him.
This story beautifully encapsulates the essence of Raksha Bandhan—an unspoken bond of protection that transcends time and circumstance.
Raksha Bandhan Story of King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi
Another legend that enriches the history of Raksha Bandhan involves Lord Vishnu and the demon king Bali. In the Bhagavat Puran and Vishnu Puran, it is mentioned that after Vishnu conquers the three worlds from King Bali, King Bali asks Vishnu to live in his palace.
After defeating Bali, Vishnu promised to stay in Bali’s palace to protect him, a gesture that left Vishnu’s wife, Goddess Lakshmi, lonely and concerned. Lakshmi ji visited Bali as a Brahmin woman to bring her husband back and sought shelter in his palace. During her stay, she tied a rakhi on Bali’s wrist, symbolizing her wish for his protection.
When Bali, touched by the gesture, asked her to make a wish, Lakshmi revealed her true identity and requested Vishnu’s return. Bali, honoring the bond of Rakhi, fulfilled her wish and allowed Vishnu to leave. This story emphasizes the protective bond symbolized by Rakhi and showcases the deep respect and commitment that can arise from such gestures.
Raksha Bandhan Story of Emperor Humayun and Rani Karnavati:
A historical tale associated with Raksha Bandhan features Emperor Humayun and Rani Karnavati of Chittor. Facing an imminent threat from Bahadur Shah, Rani Karnavati sent a rakhi to Humayun, seeking his protection. Despite being engaged in military campaigns elsewhere, Humayun immediately changed his course to protect his rakhi sister. Though he arrived too late to save her, his decision to honor the rakhi above his own ambitions has become a lasting symbol of the power of this bond.
This story illustrates how Raksha Bandhan is not limited to biological siblings but can extend to any relationship where trust, honor, and protection are shared.
Raksha Bandhan Story of King Alexander and King Porus
The story of King Alexander the Great and King Porus is another example of the far-reaching significance of Raksha Bandhan. When Alexander invaded India, his wife, Roxana, sent a rakhi to Porus, asking him to spare her husband’s life in battle. Porus, moved by this gesture, refrained from killing Alexander when he had the chance. This act of compassion and honor, driven by the symbolic power of the rakhi, illustrates how the festival transcends cultural and religious boundaries.
Raksha Bandhan Story of Santoshi Ma
In Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha’s sons, Shubh and Labh, once expressed their desire to have a sister to celebrate Raksha Bandhan. After much persuasion, Ganesha created a daughter, Santoshi Ma, who fulfilled the brothers’ wish and became an integral part of their lives. This story emphasizes siblings’ joy and fulfilment in each other’s lives and the importance of shared celebrations.
Raksha Bandhan: A Festival Beyond Borders
While the roots of Raksha Bandhan are deeply embedded in Hindu culture, the festival has evolved to transcend religious and cultural boundaries. Today, it is celebrated by people of various faiths in India and around the world, symbolizing the universal values of love, protection, and mutual respect. In many communities, Raksha Bandhan is not restricted to blood relations; friends, neighbors, and even strangers tie rakhis as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity.
In contemporary times, Raksha Bandhan has also become a celebration of gender equality and social harmony. Sisters tie rakhis on their brothers’ wrists, but the gesture is increasingly reciprocated, with brothers tying rakhis on their sisters, signifying mutual protection and respect. The festival has thus become a celebration of all forms of love and care, transcending traditional gender roles and societal norms.