Rakhi Ke Bandhan : Non-breakable chain of protection

Prabhat Kishore                                  
Mere Rakhi Ki Dor,  Kabhi Ho Na Kamjor;
Bhaiya De Do Kalai,  Bahan Aayi Hai.
Kitna  Rishta  Hai  Pavan,  Mahina  Bhi  Savan;
Bhaiya  Kha  Lo  Mithai,  Bahan  Layi Hai.
Nata  Bhai–Bahan,  Jaise  Dharti–Gagan;
Dono  Aise  Khile,  Sach Mein  Ek  Hi  Chaman.
Mera  Pyara  Tu  Bhaiya,  Leti Hun  Balaiya;
Dekh  Neh  Ki  Jalayi,  Bahan Aayi Hai.
India is the most culturally enriched country in the world. It is the land of religions, faiths, fairs and festivals. Some festivals are common to the masses, whereas some reinforce the bond between two particular relations, such as Karva  Chauth  (Wife & Husband), Haritalika or Teej (Wife & Husband), Jivitputrika or Jivtia  (Mother  &  Child), Bhaiya  Dooj  (Brother  &  Sister),  Guru Purnima (Teacher  &  Pupil)  etc.  One of such bond reinforcing festival between Brother and Sister is Raksha  Bandhan,  in which the sister tie the sacred thread called “Rakhi” on her brother’s right  wrist to pray for his prosperity & well-being and in return the brother offers to take responsibility for proper care of the sisters. The festival is celebrated every year on Purnima (Full Moon), the last day of  Shravan month of Vikram   Samvat   Pan-chang, traditionally used in the Indian sub-continent.
In a broad sense, Raksha  Bandhan festival is the symbol of seeking protection from powerful ones by weaker ones. The two Sanskrit words “Raksha” and “Bandhan” ie “Bond of protection” symbolizes sincere and lofty human emotions. The occasion also has a pledge for spiritual, cultural and moral values.
There are several mythological and religious stories regarding Raksha  Bandhan. There was a battle between Devtas and Demons, in which Devraj Indra was in fear of losing. Then Indrani, the wife of Devraj, prepared a sacred thread with her religious power and tied it around Indra’s right hand with a wish that it will protect him from demons. Her wish came true when later day Devtas defeated demons and Indra along with other Devtas  returned  safely.
Mahabharat narrates that once Bhagwan Krishna was flying a kite, during which his finger got cut with the thread. Seeing the blood,   Draupadi  immediately tore a piece of cloths from her Saree and tied it on Krishna’s wounded finger. Krishna promised to protect her against all odds throughout his life-time which were fulfilled during Chirharan and various others occasions. As per another mythology, Yamraj, the God of death, visited his twin sister Yami or Yamuna after a long time of 12 years on Shrawan  Purnima. Yamuna tied the sacred thread on Yamraj’s wrist and Yamraj announced that whoever promises to protect his sister on this occasion will stay immortal; thus following the tradition of Raksha  Bandhan.
Raksha   Bandhan  is also  based on several happenings in history as well as faiths.   The  Sikh Maharani Jindan, wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh,  used to tie Rakhi to Nepal Naresh Jung Bahadur. In 1849, when English conquered Sikh territories, Jindan was given shelter by Jung Bahadur. In 326 BCE, when the battle between Alexander and Raja Porus was at its peak, Roxana, the wife of Alexander, sent Rakhi to Porus with a request to not harm her husband. Porus stopped attacking Alexander personally.
Around 1535 CE, Rani Karnavati, widowed queen of Rana Sanga, realized that she could not protect her territories Chittorgarh   from  invasion of Sultan of Guja-rat, Bahadur Shah, and she sent a Rakhi to Humayun asking for his help. Huma-yun immediately set off, but by then the Sultan had already conquered the fortress and Rani had immolated herself as Jauhar. Humayun restored Karna-vati’s son, Vikramjit, to the throne. In 18th century, Sikh Khalsa armies initiated Rakhi system as a  promise to protect peasant farmers from Afghan invaders.
Raksha   Bandhan  is celebrated in India, Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, Pakistan, Bangala  Desh and South Asian countries. Although it is said to be  festival of Hindus along with its other originating sects Sikh, Buddhist, Jain; but in various parts of the country it can be seen to be celebrated among Muslims, Christians and Parsis too. The brother-sister bond in celebrating Raksha  Bandhan do not mean just blood relation, but cousins, sisters, sister-in-laws, fraternal aunt, nephew, and other equivalent relations.A sister is the gift to the heart, a friend to  the spirit and a golden thread to the meaning of life. The brother and sister try to visit each other in order to bring back the solidarity of the family and binding the family in emotional bond of love.
In addition to real life, the festival has been portrayed in reel-life of movies too. The big as well as small screens acted as a catalyst to spread the festival vibes among the people. The scenes and songs have connected the people to understand the brother-sister relation more promi- nently. Numerous melodious famous songs like“ Bhaiya  Mere  Rakhi Ke Bandhan Ko Nibhana “, “ Bahna Ne Bhai Ki Kalai Pe Pyar Bandha Hai ‘, “ Ek Hajaron Men Meri Bahna Hai“ ,“Meri Bahna Jaisi Na Hogi Kisi Ki Bahna Re“, “Ye Rakhi Bandhan Hai Aisa”,  “ Rakhi Dhagon Ka Tyohar”, “Mere Bhaiya Mere Chanda”, “Rang Birangi Rakhi Le Ke Aayi Bahna” , “Mere Rakhi Ki Dor Kabhi Ho Na Kamjor,  Bhaiya De Do Kalai Bahan Aayi Hai”,  etc. are powerful enough to make the people emotional.
As trees are the life supporting natural system for human beings by absorbing harmful gases like Carbon Di-oxide and releasing oxygen; so on this day, the environmentalists tied Rakhi around the trees with a message to protect it and conserve the nature. In rural areas, the priests tie sacred Bandhan on their Yajman’s wrist, give blessings and in return obtain   Dakshina for their livelihood.
In present era of globali-sation, Raksha  Bandhan could not be restricted to just bond between brother and sister, the relationship could be generalized in every sector of life, ie from bond of protection between priviledged and under-priviledged sections of society to developed and underdeveloped Nations.
The thread of Rakhi is considered as a non-breakable chain and it binds the pious relationship in an inseparable bond of love, trust and care. It has social significance as it underlines the notion that everybody should live harmoniously with each other.