Raksha Bandhan Festival: History, Importance
Why Is Raksha Bandhan Celebrated In India: Raksha Bandhan, or Rakhi, is celebrated to show the unbreakable love between brothers and sisters. This festival falls every year on the Purnima Tithi (full moon day) of Shravan month (Sawan month). On this day, sisters perform Puja and tie Rakhi on the wrists of their brothers and pray for their health and success in life. Brothers promise to protect their sisters, love them, and always be ready to help them in adverse situations.
What is the history of Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan is an important festival for Hindus. One of the legends associated with this festival originates from the epic Mahabharata. According to mythology, Lord Krishna’s finger was accidentally cut by the Sudarshan Chakra. Seeing this, Draupadi tore a piece of cloth from her sari and tied it on the injury to stop the bleeding. Lord Krishna was very impressed by her gesture and promised to always protect her. He fulfilled this promise when Draupadi faced public humiliation in the royal court of Hastinapur.
Importance of Raksha Bandhan
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is also celebrated as a symbol of brother-sister love and the protection of sisters by brothers. On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi to their brothers and feed them sweets. At the same time, brothers promise to protect their sisters on this day.
Story of Lord Vishnu and Bali
It is said that due to the influence of Lord Vishnu, when King Bali had to go to Patal Lok, the gods were saved from this, and since then, Hindus celebrate Raksha Bandhan. On the other hand, at the same time, Bali received blessings from Lord Vishnu to stay with him and to bring back her husband and keep him with her. Goddess Lakshmi tied a Rakhi to Bali and in return got her husband back. From then on, the tradition of Rakhi is considered to have started, because in this way, the good fortune of Goddess Lakshmi was protected. This shloka related to Bali also confirms this. Yen baddho Baliraja danavendrao Mahabal:. Ten tvampi badhnaami raksha ma chal ma chal.
That is, I tie you with the same thread with which the great, powerful demon king Bali was tied. O Raksha means Rakhi! You should remain steadfast, that is, you should never deviate from your resolve.
Story related to Indra
According to Bhavishya Purana, when Devraj Indra was getting defeated by the demons in the war between gods and demons, Devguru Brihaspati tied the Raksha Sutra made by his wife Indrani on Indra’s hand and read the above shloka, due to which not only was Indra saved, but he also won. This is also said to be the beginning of Raksha Bandhan.
The story of Krishna and Yudhishthira
It is said that Raksha Bandhan is also mentioned in the story named Vamanavatar in Skandha Purana, Padma Purana, and Shrimad Bhagwat. Similarly, it is believed that in Dwapar Yug, Yudhishthira tied a Rakhi to Vasudev Nandan Shri Krishna. From that day onwards, the tradition of tying this Raksha Sutra on the day of Shravan Purnima has been going on. Due to these characteristics, the thread is believed to give wealth, power, happiness, and victory.
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