Raksha Bandhan

Rakshabandhan or Rakhi Festival is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm and faith.There is a tradition of sisters tying the Rakhi or the sacred thread on brother's wrist while performing arti of brother and praying for his long life. Brothers' present Rakhi Gifts to their sister and promise to protect her always. This simple custom of Rakhi is being carried forward since ancient times. Any festival in India is incomplete without the typical Indian festivities, the gatherings, celebrations, exchange of sweets and gifts, singing and dancing. Rakhi festival is the celebration of togetherness and love and trust between the family members specifically between the brothers and sisters.

It is the celebration of brothers and sisters. It is one festival that primarily belongs to the North and Western regions of India but celebrated throughout the country with the same verve. Regional celebrations may be different but Raksha bandhan has become an integral part of those customs.As per the traditions, the sister on this day prepares the pooja thali with diya, roli, chawal and rakhis. She worships the deities, ties Rakhi to the brother(s) and wishes for their well being. The brother in turn acknowledges the love with a promise to be by the sisters' side through the thick and thin and gives her a token gift.

The festival has been celebrated in the same way with the same traditions for centuries. Only the means have changed with the changing lifestyles. This too to make the celebrations more elaborate.This is the day that still pulls the siblings together. The increasing physical distances evoke the desire to be together even more. They try to reach out to each other on the Raksha Bandhan day. The joyous meeting, the rare family get-together, that erstwhile feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood calls for a massive celebration.

Rakhi or Raksha is a sacred thread that denotes the sister's love and affection for her brother. By accepting a Rakhi from a sister a brother feels the sense of responsibility towards protecting her sister. In Indian tradition the frail thread of Rakhi is the symbol of inseparable bond of love and trust between brothers and sisters.

Rakhi holds immense significance in Indian cultural ethos. The custom of celebrating Rakhi started in Vedic times and even today brothers and sisters consider it must to celebrate the occasion in traditional manner. When brothers are away sisters send Rakhi to them and express their love. Accepting the Rakhi with grace brothers send Return gifts to their sister. This loving gesture goes a long way in strengthening brother sister relationship and building stronger family ties. The importance of Raksha Bandhan is same as Diwali festival in India.