Today is the festival of RAKSHABANDHAN...So I wish everyone all over the world a very happy rakhshabandhan. For my friends who are not aware of this festival, let me tell you something about it.
The festival of rakshabandhan started in ancient times when the Indian rulers were fighting with the Britishers who had invaded India. A queen had tied this thread on the wrist of another Indian ruler symbolic of asking him to protect her and her region... since then this tradition is carried on.
On the day of rakhshabandhan the sister wakes up early in the morning, gets dressed up in fine clothes and then offers her prayers to GOD. Then the steel plate is made ready with kumkum(red powder put on forehead on auspicious occasions),rice,earthen oil lamp and the rakhi which is this thread about the length of a wrist watch which the sister would tie on her brother's hand.
When the brother is ready, the sister puts bit of kumkum on his forehead, some rice, and then she ties the rakhi on her brother's right wrist. By getting the rakhi tied the brother pledges that he will protect his sister for the rest of his life. Then as a token of thanks, the brother gives her sister any gift or some money.
These days rakhis come in lots of shapes and sizes. They are made of many materials ranging from simple cotton threads,wool to silk, silver and even gold ones. Some come with beads in them. For the kid brothers rakhis are even available in the form of many cartoon characters. As you can see in the post below, that's a rakhi thread and that's the rakhi that my sister sent for me... Yes you would ask me that we are sisters, but the thing is that we do not have any real brother so we tie rakhis to each other.
It doesn't matter whether the rakhi is simple or fancy expensive one, it doesn't matter whether your brother gives you expensive gifts or blessings as a gift, it doesn't even matter whom you tie your rakhi too, I even tie it to my dog BOSCO... What matters is the sentiment that lies behind this ceremony...The sentiment that your loved one pledges to keep you happy and to protect you is what is really the beauty of this festival...
The festival of rakshabandhan started in ancient times when the Indian rulers were fighting with the Britishers who had invaded India. A queen had tied this thread on the wrist of another Indian ruler symbolic of asking him to protect her and her region... since then this tradition is carried on.
On the day of rakhshabandhan the sister wakes up early in the morning, gets dressed up in fine clothes and then offers her prayers to GOD. Then the steel plate is made ready with kumkum(red powder put on forehead on auspicious occasions),rice,earthen oil lamp and the rakhi which is this thread about the length of a wrist watch which the sister would tie on her brother's hand.
When the brother is ready, the sister puts bit of kumkum on his forehead, some rice, and then she ties the rakhi on her brother's right wrist. By getting the rakhi tied the brother pledges that he will protect his sister for the rest of his life. Then as a token of thanks, the brother gives her sister any gift or some money.
These days rakhis come in lots of shapes and sizes. They are made of many materials ranging from simple cotton threads,wool to silk, silver and even gold ones. Some come with beads in them. For the kid brothers rakhis are even available in the form of many cartoon characters. As you can see in the post below, that's a rakhi thread and that's the rakhi that my sister sent for me... Yes you would ask me that we are sisters, but the thing is that we do not have any real brother so we tie rakhis to each other.
It doesn't matter whether the rakhi is simple or fancy expensive one, it doesn't matter whether your brother gives you expensive gifts or blessings as a gift, it doesn't even matter whom you tie your rakhi too, I even tie it to my dog BOSCO... What matters is the sentiment that lies behind this ceremony...The sentiment that your loved one pledges to keep you happy and to protect you is what is really the beauty of this festival...
1 comment:
This is really great. The stories and zoroastrian facts are very interesting and the pictures are great.
Keep up the great work!
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