Have you told your sister or brother that you love them lately? Yes? No? Well, today is the perfect day to do it! Because today we celebrate the relationship between brothers and sisters here in India, and they sure know how to celebrate in this country! Today it is time for Raksha Bandhan, dear reader!
Today the sister will tie the rakhi (holy tread) on to the wrist of her brother, as a symbol of love and her wish for his well-being. In return the brother will give gifts and sweets to his sister, and he will promise to protect her for a lifetime. The girls/women may also tie the rakhi on the wrist of their male cousins and on boys/men, (friends&unrelated. but considered to be their brothers) -, if they commit to a lifelong obligation to provide protection to the girl/woman. In that way they bond for a lifetime and extend their present family. And as Manisha told me (I thought this was both sad and lovely at the same time): If the brother has passed away, the sister will tie the rakhi at the picture of her brother. So, she added: if you forget it in every day life: at Raksha Bandhan you are reminded to tell your siblings that you love them...:
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PS. The very popular practice of Raksha Bandhan has many historical associations. My personal favorite (we are talking Greek History now of course!) is the story about when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC. His wife Roxana then sent a rakhi to the Katock king Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. On the battlefield, when Porus was about to deliver a final blow to Alexander, he saw the rakhi on his own wrist and restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally. So there you go!
Today the sister will tie the rakhi (holy tread) on to the wrist of her brother, as a symbol of love and her wish for his well-being. In return the brother will give gifts and sweets to his sister, and he will promise to protect her for a lifetime. The girls/women may also tie the rakhi on the wrist of their male cousins and on boys/men, (friends&unrelated. but considered to be their brothers) -, if they commit to a lifelong obligation to provide protection to the girl/woman. In that way they bond for a lifetime and extend their present family. And as Manisha told me (I thought this was both sad and lovely at the same time): If the brother has passed away, the sister will tie the rakhi at the picture of her brother. So, she added: if you forget it in every day life: at Raksha Bandhan you are reminded to tell your siblings that you love them...:
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| Festivalsinindia.com |
Happy celebration - Happy Raksha Bandhan, dear reader!
PS. The very popular practice of Raksha Bandhan has many historical associations. My personal favorite (we are talking Greek History now of course!) is the story about when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC. His wife Roxana then sent a rakhi to the Katock king Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. On the battlefield, when Porus was about to deliver a final blow to Alexander, he saw the rakhi on his own wrist and restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally. So there you go!
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| Alexander the Great - saved by a rakhi??? |
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