Raksha Bandhan / Band of Protection or Rakhi

Mantra to chant while tying

Kasturi tilakam lalata phalake
Vakshastale kaustubham
Nasagre vara mauktikam
Kare kankanam ,sarvange
Hari chandanancha kalayan
Kantecha muktavaleem
Gopastri pari veshtitho
Gopala chudamani.

is one of the most popular festivals in India. Though the origin of the festival varies, today it
signifies a bond of protection between brother and sister. Sisters tie a thread around the right
wrist of their brothers, praying for their long life while brothers take a vow to protect their sisters.
In recent days, Rakhi has come to signify a bond of friendship and good will towards all.

The Origin of Raksha Bandhan

There are a number of different legends explaining the origin of Raksha Bandhan. In some
cases they are mythological while in others, they are historical.

According to Hindu scriptures, when demons or Asuras defeated the king of gods, Indra, his
wife Indrani tied a sacred yellow thread around his wrist. Fortified by its protection, he went on
to fight and win the war.

Goddess Lakshmi tied a rakhi on the wrist of demon king Bali requesting the return of her lord
Vishnu who was guarding the door of Bali.

In Mahabharata, queen Draupadi once tied a piece of yellow fabric torn from her own dress on
the wrist of Krishna to heal his injury. Krishna was so touched by the action that he proclaimed it
made him her brother and he now had the responsibility to protect her which he did repeatedly
in spite of her five powerful husbands.

The Rakhi has been used in India since historical times to signify friendship and brotherhood.
Rajput queens used to send rakhi to neighboring kings as tokens of friendship. Nobel laureate
poet Rabindranath Tagore used Raksha Bandhan as a symbol of unity in the face of British
strategy to partition Bengal along communal lines.

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravana.

Raksha Bandhan literally means the bond of protection. It is also known as Rakhi in various
parts of India. It is called Gamha Purnima in Orissa, Narali Purnima in western India, Jandhyam
Purnima in Uttarakhand, Kajari purnima in Central India and Jhulan Purnima in Bengal.
Rituals of Raksha Bandhan
The major rituals of Raksha bandhan are as follows:

The common ritual is the bond between brothers and sisters. Women bathe in the morning and
observe fasting. They perform puja. Then they tie rakhi on the right wrist of their brothers,
cousin brothers as well as unrelated males whom they regard as brothers. They put a mark of
rice and haldi on the forehead of the brother and perform aarti. The brothers give gifts to the
sisters and they feed sweets to each other.

In Orissa, Gamha Purnima is observed where cows and bulls are decorated and worshipped
on this day.

In Western India, Narali purnima is celebrated where a Nariel or coconut is offered to the sea
god Varuna. It marks the beginning of the fishing season.

Jandhyam Purnima is celebrated in Uttarakhand where the sacred thread is changed on this
day.

Jhulan purnima is celebrated in Bengal where Krishna and Radha are worshipped.

Important Timings On Raksha Bandhan

Sunrise August 22, 2021 6:09 AM
Sunset August 22, 2021 6:49 PM
Purnima Tithi Starts August 21, 2021 7:00 PM
Purnima Tithi Ends August 22, 2021 5:31 PM
Bhadra Starts August 21, 2021 7:00 PM
Bhadra Ends August 22, 2021 6:13 AM
Raksha Bandhan Time August 22, 6:13 AM - August 22, 5:31 PM
Raksha Bandhan Aparahan Time August 22, 1:45 PM - August 22, 4:17 PM
Raksha Bandhan Pradosha Time August 22, 6:49 PM - August 22, 9:05 PM