In an era which is marked by movements for women’s liberation and rights, Raksha Bandhan can be celebrated as a festival that promotes brotherly-sisterly relations. Raksha Bandhan this year is being celebrated on August 29. Traditionally, this festival is celebrated by our Hindu brothers and sisters. The sister seeks the protection of her blood-brother or a close male friend, who in turn offers her respect and protection. Earlier, this festival was wrongly understood as a woman subjugating herself before a man as her lord and master. Raksha Bandhan, celebrated in the month of Shravan (August) is a festival where the sisters tie a decorative thread known as a ‘rakhi’ around the wrist of their brothers and apply a ‘tilak’ on their forehead. They pray for their brothers’ well-being, who in turn promises to take care of them and offer them protection.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan has acquired different expressions and connotations in the course of time. Today, the sisters choose flashy, stylish and expensive rakhis for their brothers and look forward to receiving expensive gifts from them like a mobile phone or an iPod. Unknown to many, this festival is rooted in several myths and a spiritual truth of greatest significance that reflect its purity and power of protection. Before the advent of sister-brother ritual, the sacred thread of rakhi was tied by the family priest. It was considered auspicious for all the family members. This custom still prevails in some parts of India.
It was also believed that soldiers and warriors were tied rakhis by their sisters and wives before they entered into the battlefield to wish them good luck and a safe journey back home. Actually, it was a reminder that they should respect the honour of the womenfolk of the enemy in the same spirit as they would expect their own womenfolk to be treated by the enemy, if captured.
According to one story, it is said that there was a 12-year-long battle between the deities and demons, which was won by the latter. The king of deities, Indra, vowed to claim back his sovereignty by waging another war with the demons. Before going to war, his wife, Indrani, tied him a ‘rakshasutra’ as a symbol of protection. This time, Indra won the battle and the deities reclaimed their sovereignty over heaven.
According to another legend, when Yamuna, the sister of Yama, the lord of death tied a rakhi to him, he declared that whosoever would tie this bond of purity and eschew lust would be liberated from the fear of death and attains a place in the land of immortality, i.e. heaven. These stories highlight the fact that true protection is possible only when purity is upheld in any relationship. Today, it’s more than ever imperative to reinforce this message of Raksha Bandhan to protect women’s honour. We have been witnessing more and more women falling prey to the lust of men. Today, most women feel unsafe and insecure even at home.
Raksha Bandhan is undoubtly the only bondage that truly frees us from all insecurities, fear and sorrow. Let us therefore spread the true message of Raksha Bandhan and vow to imbibe pure attitude and respectful behaviour towards all womenfolk.
Jubel D’Cruz
