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Raksha Bandhan Festival in India
 India is a country of festivals. It is culturally so rich that it celebrates a festival almost every month. The people of India are so lively that they find a reason or the other for celebrations. One of such reasons is the sweet and sour relationship between a brother and a sister. Though brothers and sisters share and enjoy the bond of love between them throughout the year but Rakhi is the day when they get an opportunity to express their tender love and feelings towards each other. The Rakhi day is an opportunity for them to commemorate their loving memories, loyalty, closeness, trust and friendship that is lasting and true.
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year on 'Shravan Purnima' (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), which generally falls in the month of August. On the holy day of Rakhi the sisters tie a sacred piece of thread (Known as Rakhi or 'Raksha-Sutra') on the wrist of their brothers. Then they sweeten each others mouths with delicious and mouth-watering sweets. The festival of Rakhi also includes a tradition of offering gifts to sisters by the brothers.
History Of Rakhi Festival
Hindu scriptures and mythology is the source of all the Hindu rituals and festivals. One can find explanations for all the Hindu traditions and customs in the religious Hindu epics. Therefore the origin of Rakhi celebrations is also rooted in the Hindu mythology.
There is no confirm date and time available about the history of Rakhi festival but the story goes as follows...
In the Vedic period, on a 'Shravan Poornima' day (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), the deities and the demons were fighting a battle against each other. Unfortunately the demons were in a stronger position as compared to the deities. The king of the deities, Lord Indra, was very much worried about the result of the battle. His wife Indrani (also known as Shashikala) could not see him worried and prayed to the almighty. Indrani was a religious lady so she prepared a Talisman with her religious power and tied it around Indra's right wrist. She believed that this Talisman will safeguard Indra from the attack made by the demons. She was actually right about her belief as that day the deities won the battle and Lord Indra escaped unhurt.
As this Talisman had the power of protecting the one who holds it therefore it was called 'Raksha Sutra' and the ceremony of tying the Talisman was called 'Raksha Bandhan'. And since this ceremony took place on 'Shravan Poornima' day therefore it has become a tradition to celebrate 'Raksha Bandhan' on the 'Shravan Poornima' day every year.
Rakhi Customs & Rituals
On the auspicious day of Rakhi all the sisters and brothers get up early in the morning. They wear new clothes on this occasion and get ready for their special festival. Generally there is a 'Shubh-Muhurt' for performing the tying of Rakhi to the brothers. Therefore they get ready accordingly.
Sisters decorate a 'Thali' (A Plate) especially for the occasion of Rakhi. They keep all the necessary items like Roli (for Tilak), Akshat (rice grains for Tilak), Diya or Deepak (for performing the Arti of their brother), Sweets and the Rakhi in that beautifully decorated Thali. First of all the sisters put Tilak on the forehead of their brother and then stick some of the Akshat to the same Tilak. Then they perform the Arti of their brothers. After that they tie the Rakhi, preferably, on the right wrist of their brothers.
While performing the tying of the Rakhi on to the brothers, sisters generally chant the following 'mantra'...
"Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah
tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala"
This is a 'mantra' mentioned in the 'Hindu Shastras' and it means...
"I am tying a Rakhi on you, like the one on mighty demon king Bali. Be firm, O Rakhi, do not falter." After tying the Rakhi the sisters sweeten the mouth of their brothers with sweets.
Then it is the brother's turn to give some gifts to their sisters. This gift can be either in cash or in kind. Sometimes the sisters also give return gifts to their brothers.
Thus on the festive occasion of Rakhi the brothers and sisters wish happy long life, success, prosperity and health to each other. In last all of them seek the blessings of their parents and other elderly people in their family. After that they go to visit their relatives and to exchange the greetings with them.
Rakhi Celebrations
 In India, Rakhi is celebrated with lot of fun and frolic. Besides tying rakhis on the brother's hand, gift exchanges, relishing tempting and mouth watering sweets, lots of other elements are also present. These acts make the Rakhi festival all the more interesting and one is always looking forward for this day to arrive.
Mehendi
Ladies have always been fond of putting Mehendi on their palms. But during the festival of Rakhi Mehendi has special importance. On the occasion of Rakhi they decorate each others' palms with different styles of Mehendi such as Marwadi, Shekhawati or Mumbaiya style. Thus Mehendi has become a part of the Rakhi festival.
Dressing of Brothers and Sisters
Brothers:
On the auspicious day of Rakhi the brothers usually prefer to go for traditional outfits like Kurta-Payjamas, Pathan Suits, Kurta-Jeans etc. Sometimes they also like to wear formal outfits like Shirt with Trousers or Shirts with Jeans.
Sisters: The sisters, if married, mostly love to tie designer sarees with little or heavy zari work. The unmarried sisters go for Salwar-Kurta, Chudidaar-Kurta, Saree, Lehengas, Parellels-Short Kurtas or other apparels.
Rakhi Cards
In modern times, when a large number of the brothers and sisters stay away from each other due to their educational, job or married life responsibilities, they send Rakhi-Cards to each other. They express their feelings towards each other with the help of beautiful Rakhi-Cards, with a printed message, available in the market. The sisters, who are not able to reach their brothers on this auspicious day, send the Rakhi for their brothers through postal or courier services.
Markets
On the festive occasion of Rakhi the markets are decorated profusely. Wide variety of colorful and beautiful fancy and designer Rakhi is available in the market. These are made of Resham or Zari threads and are decorated with different items like beads, semi-precious stones or imitation jewellery, sometimes also with silver and gold. Price of Rakhi varies according to the materials used in making them.
Happy Rakshabandhan !!! Let the celebrations begin
Rakhi India
Rakhi is one of the very important festivals of India. It is celebrated all over the country but the ways of celebrations vary region to region. The name of this festival also changes as soon as one enters into a new region. For instance some of the names are the 'Vish Taadak' (destroyer of poison), the 'Punya Pradaayak' (bestower of boons), and the 'Paap Naashak' (destroyer of sins). Well this is why India is called an example of 'Unity in Diversity'.
Northern India
The Rakhi festival is popularly known as the 'Rakhi' or the 'Raksha-Bandhan'. But it is known by one more name and that is the 'Kajri-Poornima'. In this part of the country this day is propitious because it is an important day for the agriculturist as they start sowing the grain seeds in their farms on this day. Thus since a new begining is there so people worship 'Goddess Bhagwati' on this day.
 Eastern India
In the eastern part of the country the significance of Rakshabandhan is indicated by the cultural richness of famous institute the 'Shanti-Niketan.' The founder of this institute was the great Nobel Laureate Rabindro Nath Thhakur. He initiated the 'Rakhi Utsava' (Rakhi tying ceremony) there long back. But the custom is continued till date by the pupils of the 'Shanti-Niketan'.
Southern India
In some parts of the south India the Rakhi festival is celebrated by the name of 'Avanee-Avittum' whereas in some other parts it is known as 'Opakramam'. This day has special significance for the brahmins as they tie the sacred string on to their patrons wrists and in turm the patrons offer them gifts in cash or kind. 'Shravan Poornima' is yet another name of Rakhi in this part of the country.
Western India
In the western region of India Rakshabandhan popular by the name of 'Naariyal Poornima' (the 'Coconut Full Moon Day'). It is believed here that since ancient times people worship Lord Varuna (the God of Sea) on this day. They offer the 'Naariyals' (coconuts) to Lord Varuna by proffering them into the sea.
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