Raksha Bandhan 2016

Raksha Bandhan is the day on which, sisters tie Rakhi on the hands of their brothers and pray for their long lives and wish that brothers will protect them from the problems and harms in their lives. Brothers do give gifts to sisters and give the promise to protect their sisters. Not only brothers and sisters but women and men who are relatives or even not related biologically also celebrate this festival of joy and warmth.

Raksha Bandhan means “The Bond of Protection”. In the hands of brothers, sisters tie the Rakhi and then pray that their brothers will protect them against all the evil beings. Brothers give promise to their sisters that they will protect their sisters against all the threats and the harms caused in their lives. The festival of “Raksha Bandhan” is celebrated on the “Poornima day of Shravan Maas” according to the Hindu calendar. In the year of 2016, the Rakhi will come on Thursday, Aug 18th according to the English calendar and on the day of Shravan Poornima.

The meaning of Raksha is “Protection” and the meaning of Bandhan is “Bonding”. In ancient India, women tied the “Raksha” on their husband’s hands to protect them from evil spirits and to win the battles. As gradually this tradition has changed; women tie the “Rakhi” on their brother’s hand to protect them from the influence of evil beings and giving the strength of their bond of love. The brothers bring different gifts happily for their sisters and make promises to them, that they will protect their sisters against all the problems come into their lives.

As written in some ancient scriptures of India, on this very day Shri Narayana - the Hindu Lord was offered devotion by raja Bali who was willing to sacrifice himself and his kingdom. For this reason, the festival is also known as “Baleva”, which relates devotion to the Hindu Lord.

Also, according to the tradition in Hindu religion, Brahmin Boys celebrate the changing ceremony of the sacred thread called “Janeu”. They can wear the sacred thread only after the ceremony of “Upnayan Sanskar” and it suggests that the boy develops into a man. On the day of “Baleva”, in the early morning in front of the Sun, they discard the old Janeu and wear a new one by doing proper “Pooja” of the Lord.

On the Celebration of Raksha Bandhan, sisters make visits to their brother’s home and makes “Pujan” of their brothers by applying KumKum and Rice on their brother’s forehead and performs Arti for him. Brothers give different gifts in the return and promise to protect her. Then they celebrate the whole day together with family and make their sibling bonding stronger and recalls their old memories spent together. If there are geographic limitations occurring between them, and if sisters can not go to their brother’s home on their own, they send their Rakhi through the post or through courier to their brothers putting the latter inside written by their own hands and pray for their brothers.

Every year the traditional Rakhis are having new attractive designs and multiple color variations. There are varieties ranging from purely traditional to modern Rakhis based on the theme of current trends. This year of 2016, will bring the varieties most in children Rakhis. Rakhis designed on the theme of the cartoon series like Doraemon, Ben10, Chota Bheem, Johny Bravo will have a great market this year. The Traditional Rakhis mainly contains Rudraksha, Om, and Swastik in the Sandalwood, Zardosi and Zari designs. In the Year of 2016, new types of Rakhis like Bracelet Rakhi, Beads Rakhi, Diamond Rakhi, Pearl Rakhi and Gold Coin Rakhi will be in demand.