Raksha Bandhan – The tread of protection

Well, first of all how did Raksha Bandhan start?

One day, Lord Krishna killed King Shishupal. Lord Krishna was hurt in a war and his finger was bleeding. Seeing his bleeding finger, Draupadi had torn a strip of her saree and tied around his injured finger to stop the bleeding. Lord Krishna valued her concern and affection. He felt bounded by her sisterly love & compassion. He pledged to repay the debt of gratitude in her future. After a few years, the Pandavas lost their wife Draupadi in the game of dice to the Kauravas. They tried to remove the saree of Draupadi and that time Lord Krishna protected Draupadi through his divine powers. There are many other versions of this story, but this is the one I am more familiar with.  Since then, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated. Raksha Bandhan falls on the full-moon day or Purnima in the Hindu calendar month of Shravan. This year Raksha Bandhan is on 22^nd August

How do we celebrate it? 

So firstly, the sister will burn a lamp (Diya) and will do the aarti for them. The sisters give her brothers some sweet and will then tie a Rakhi on her brother’s hand. The brother vows to protect his sister and the sister vows to always pray for him. After the tying of the Rakhi is completed, the brother gives a gift to her sister.

Raksha Bandhan also strengthens the bond of a sister and a brother.

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