There are many traditions and customs associated with the festival of Rakshabandhan. People have maintained them for ages and they are still as relevant today. On the day of the festival sisters tie the rakhi on the wrists of their brothers as a symbol of binding them to an everlasting relationship.
Rakshabandhan translates from Sanskrit as “the tie or bond of protection, “and this is in significance of the custom for brothers taking a solemn vow to safeguard their sisters at all costs in return for the rakhis. Indian traditions also maintains if a woman ties a rakhi on the wrists of any male, he is obligated to treat her like his real sister and must also protect her from all harm. There are many examples from history which illustrates this glorious tradition. King Porus safeguarded Alexander the great in battlefield after Alexander’s wife Roxana tied a rakhi on his wrists. And the tale of the Mughal Emperor Humayun who rushed to help Rani Karnawati of Chittor after she sent a rakhi to him is another classic example.
But with the onset of time there have been some changes in the traditions of the festival. Traditionally it was only the brothers who presented rakhi return gifts to their sisters but these days sisters too buy gifts for Rakhi and present them to their brothers. The rakhi thread itself has also undergone changes. They were traditionally simple cotton or silk threads woven at home but now people buy fancy Rakhi threads in various designs which are readily available in the market. Although there have been slight changes in the traditions, the essence of sister and brother still stays the same for Rakshabandhan.
