Power and Symbolism of the Rakhi Thread

Rakshabandhan is celebrated on “Shravan Poornima” which is the full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Shravana. The festival is a celebration of the eternal bond between brothers and sisters. Rakshabandhan is marked by the tying of the sacred thread which is known as Rakhi. And on the day of the festival it is the custom for the sisters tie rakhis around the wrists of their brothers. It is a symbol of binding the brother and sister to a relationship of a lifetime. Rakshabandhan means the tie or bond of protection and in return for the rakhis, the brothers take a pledge to protect and safeguard their sisters from all harm. The rakhi thread itself also occupies an honored place in Indian traditions. In fact it is deemed so powerful that when a woman ties the rakhi on the wrists of any male, he naturally takes on the role of a real brother and thus become honor bound to protect her at all times. There are many tales from history which illustrates this glorious tradition. Mention maybe made of the Mughal Emperor Humayun who rushed to the aid of Rani Karnawati of Chittor after she sent a rakhi to him. And in another story, after Alexander’s wife Roxana tied a rakhi on the wrists of King Porus, he protected Alexander in battlefield.

The traditions of the rakhi have been maintained for generations and people still follow them closely today. Even in this modern age when family members often stay in faraway places, they still send each other rakhi and gifts for the festival. Nowadays one can buy fancyrakhi online and have it delivered to any destination of their choice and this makes it easy for siblings to keep in touch. Even brothers can also buy gifts for rakhi online and have them delivered to their sisters for the festival.

The Importance and Value of Rakhi

One of the most popular festivals of the country is Rakshabandhan. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and with much joy all over the nation. The festival is celebrated in honor of the special and beautiful relationship between brothers and sisters. On the day of the festival it is the custom of the sisters to tie a ritual thread known as rakhi around the wrists of their brothers. The rakhi is a symbolism of the lifetime bond between them. It is believed that the rakhi is so powerful and the ties it bounds are unbreakable. A man tied by a rakhi naturally assumes the role of a real brother for the woman who tied it and he must also protect her at all costs.

In the annals of Indian history we find that the Emperor Humayun rushed to the aid of Rani Karnawati after she sent a rakhi to him. The Indian king Porus protected Alexander the great in the battlefield after Alexander’s wife tied a rakhi on his wrists.

The custom of rakhi is considered to be of great importance in Indian traditions. Even when they can’t be there in person for the festival, people always send rakhi and gifts to their siblings through postal and courier services. Nowadays with the advent of internet gifts delivery business people can also buy gifts for rakhi online and send them to their siblings in distant places. Even the rakhi thread which was originally a simple home- woven thread can also be online found in its many modern formats. And sisters buy fancy Rakhi online which are available in many different designs.

Changes and Shifts in Rakhi Gifting Traditions

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.

Rising Trend of Online Rakhi Shopping

Online shopping for Rakhi is an emerging trend nowadays. Rakshabandhan, as traditionally celebrated involves brothers visiting their sisters’ place and getting the Rakhi tied in a small formal ceremony. In case they stay far from each other, sisters send their rakhis by post or courier services along with roli, rice particles and various sweets. But with online shopping with its added convenience of hassle free shopping and delivery options to any part of the world is serving to be a most handy platform for all. A lot of Rakhi gift ideas are available on the internet and most online retailers’ provide a well stocked collection of rakhis and various other Rakshabandhan gifts.

On the occasion of the festival, gift giving is a traditional and popular custom. Though it was only the brothers who used to present their sisters with gifts, these days with the onset of time, sisters too gift their brothers with presents for the festival. Online sites offer a plethora of gifting options including special rakhi gift ideas for sisters and various other gift hampers. From chocolates and flowers to accessories like handbags and jewelry, the list of unique rakhi gift ideas is nearly endless. Traditional sweets in ethnic thalis are one of the most popular gift items of the season.

Rakshabandhan can be a sentimental issue for some families whose members stay apart. And with a vast number of Indians living abroad, the onset of online sites has proved to be a boon for this festival.