Raksha Bandhan:
Raksha Bandhan, often called Rakhi for Rakhi Poornima, is one of India’s most popular festivals. Despite differing roots, the celebration currently symbolizes a sister’s protective relationship with her brother. Sisters pray for their brothers’ long lives by tying a thread around their wrists, and brothers make a vow to keep their sisters safe. Rakhi is now, more than ever, a symbol of friendship and universality by tying a thread around their wrists. Another name for it is Raksha Bandhan, which suggests a “duty of insurance.” This is a festival to promote the fraternity of blessed sentiment, love, caring, and warmth.
2025’s Raksha Bandhan
The Raksha Bandhan celebration will take place on Monday, August 9, 2025. Raksha Bandhan will remain under the influence of Bhadra until 2025; hence, it will not be auspicious to tie Rakhi at this time. Bhadra’s Raksha Bandhan 2025 ended before sunrise.
- 2025’s Raksha Bandhan Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
- Start of Raksha Bandhan 2025 Purnima Tithi: August 8, at 02:12 pm
- The end of Raksha Bandhan 2025 Purnima Tithi is August 9 at 01:24 p.m.
The significance of Raksha Bandhan
One of the most widely celebrated festivals in India is Rakhi, also known as Raksha Bandhan. People across all castes and religions celebrate this auspicious day throughout the nation.
People visit temples across the nation to obtain sacred ties. At the Kala Bhairava temple in Varanasi, there is a grand celebration, with people tying black thread around their wrists. On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, individuals are reportedly seen wrapping a crimson band across their foreheads at the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir.
Tradition has ensured that even Yagnopaveetam serves as a Rakshak to its wearers if one upholds its holiness. A very misleading conception about Raksha Bandhan in India is that only the relationship between the siblings is celebrated during the occasion. This I believe is not right since a disciple can bind a Rakhi to his teacher, or a husband and wife can put a Rakhi on each other. Irrespective of any blood relations between the two people, tying a Rakhi or someone’s hand is believed to strengthen the bond of protection, respect, and love.
How Raksha Bandhan is Celebrated
Every year, siblings celebrate Raksha Bandhan, one of the most important and much-awaited events in the Hindu calendar. Additionally, the custom of Raksha Bandhan is to honor the sister-brother tie inside the family.Since the word “raksha” literally translates to “anything tied that provides its wearer protection,” the tie, or bandhan, itself has deep symbolic importance. According to this concept, sisters adorn their brothers’ wrists with exquisitely woven Rakhi bands made of cotton or satin.
Sisters receive the same love and affection from their brothers in return. They sincerely express their appreciation for the Rakhi and pledge to safeguard and support their sisters for the rest of their lives. The other practice that accompanies Raksha Bandhan is that Siblings give each other tokens of appreciation and love. One way through which brothers express their care and appreciation is by choosing and presenting special and unique gifts to their sisters. These gifts include custom made presents and can go as far as including apparels, jewelries, or sweets.
Raksha Bandhan Rakhi Tying Method (Raksha Bandhan Vidhi)
1. Sisters should apply kumkum tilak and akshat on their brother’s forehead prior to tying Rakhi. Brothers should sit with a piece of cloth on their heads throughout this period.
2. Remember, brother, that you should never tie Rakhi with your hands empty or wide open. It is always important to ensure that the fists are clenched and some amount of money and coins in the hand.
3. Place the Raksha Sutra or Rakhi on the right hand of your brother after applying the tilak on his forehead. Do the Aarti of your brother after you Tie Rakhi. Then give your brother some candy.
4. Bow before your brother and request his blessings if he is elder to you. The brother is also supposed to bless the sister by touching her feet if the sister is elder to him.
5. After tying rakhi the brother must give something to the sister, as per his capacity should be.. Make sure you give your sister something. Lakshmi Ji becomes enraged at this.
Reason for not tying the Rakhi of Bhadrakal
In mythology, Lankapati Ravana and his sister are connected to the reason people do not tie Rakhi on Bhadra. It is stated that during the Bhadra time, Ravana tied a Rakhi to his sister, which was destroyed a year later. So, except for this time, sisters tie Rakhi to their brothers. There are also rumors that Bhadra is Shani Maharaj’s sister. Lord Brahma condemned him, saying that anyone performing any good deed in Bhadra shall suffer misfortune. Aside from this, even on Rahukaal, Rakhi is not tied. Bhadra is the Sun God’s daughter and Shani’s sister. From the time of his birth, Bhadra of the world began to cause havoc in the yagyas and obstructions in the path of auspicious and auspicious works. Lord Brahma reassured Bhadra that he would live in the underworld, heaven, and earth in order to appease him. When someone performs any auspicious work during that time (Bhadra time), you put difficulties in their path. After the reasons like Bava, Balav, etc., Lord Brahma granted Bhadra a place to live.
The history of Raksha Bandhan
We found numerous stories in Indian history that explain the origins of this celebration. There are connections between the Raksha Bandhan stories and Hindu mythology, particularly the Hindu epic Mahabharata. After Lord Krishna severed his Draupadi, she stopped the bleeding by tying a piece of material from her saree. Following this segment, the cloth turns into a sacred thread that represents Raksha Bandhan’s actual meaning.
Raksha Bandhan Festival Celebrations in India
The Kajari Purnima In Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh
In the states of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar, the event holds great importance. It is known as Kajari Purnima in these areas. For farmers, it is very important because it marks the start of a new farming season. During this season, farmers from these regions plant crops of wheat and barley. In addition, many pray to Goddess Bhagwati in hopes of receiving bountiful crops. On Kajari Navmi, the ninth day following Kajari Amavasya, the festivities get underway. Women who are fortunate enough to bear sons up until the day of Kajari Purnima undertake some rites also.
Maharashtra celebrates Narali Purnima.
Maharashtra observes two separate celebrations for this day. First of all, as it is Raksha Bandhan and Narali Purnima, the people observe the customs and rituals of tying Rakhis on their brothers’ wrists. Offering Nariyal to the sea god Varuna on this auspicious day is a way of paying respect to him. It is the end of the monsoon season in India and falls on the same day as Shravana Purnima.
Gujarat’s Pavitropana
Some regions of Gujarat celebrate Rakhi Purnima called Pavitropana. On thi day they present their prayers to Lord Shiva, the God of Death, along with a cotton filament wrapped around the Shivling that has been dipped in Panchagavya, a liquid composed of five pure cow components: ghee, milk, curd, urine, and excreta.
Rajasthan’s Lumba Rakhi
There is a unique affinity between sisters and brothers, and this event honors this wonderful relationship. This event focuses more on the relationships between brothers and sisters. The Marwari and Rajasthani communities in Rajasthan are proud of their sisters-in-law for their lovely relationship and for doing a perfect effort of caring for their brother. They accomplish this by tying Lumba Rakhi on their bhabhi’s bracelets. These groups think that a wife is an “ardhangini,” and Raksha Bandhan is not complete unless a sister-in-law receives a rakhi.
Gamha Purnima in Odisha
The Rakhi Purnima or Gamha Purnima is the other name for the Raksha Bandhan in Odisha. A sister ties rakhi on her brother’s wrist showing love and a brother in return promises to protect his sister from any danger.Known as the “birthday celebration of Lord Balabhadra,” the god of farming, Odisha’s farmers adorn their animals with rakhis on this day, called Gamha Purnima.
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FAQs about Raksha Bandhan
Q1. What is Rakhi festival English?
Ans- Rakhi festival also called Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrated amongst siblings by Indian culture traditionally.The simplest meaning of the term “Raksha Bandhan” is “the bond of protection.” On this day, the sisters tie a ritualistic sacred thread known as Rakhi on the wrist of their brothers and pray for their well being and prosperity while in return the brothers take an oath to safeguard their sisters for their entire life.
Q2. Can we tie Rakhi to boyfriend?
Ans- Yes, it is possible to send a rakhi to a boyfriend if you want to express friendship or protection or care as it does not necessarily mean blood relation only. But earlier, Rakhi was tied to brothers or any person who is like a brother, but now it can be tied by anyone to anyone as it is significant of any protective relation only.
Q3. What is the real meaning of Raksha Bandhan?
Ans- Raksha Bandhan means protection – the protection that a brother gives to his sister and a sister gives to her brother. Actually the phrase ‘Raksha Bandhan’ in literal sense stands for ‘the bond of protection’. On this auspicious day the sisters put on the ‘Rakhi’ around the wrist of their brothers along with prayers for their prosperity, health, and a long life. Consequently, brothers are expected to defend and provide for their sisters during their lifetime.
Q4. What does Rakhi Day mean?
Ans- Rakhi Day is also known as Raksha Bandhan which is a day to celebrate the brother and sisterly bond that exists between most siblings. It includes acts like tying a Rakhi and performing aarti and exchanging gifts. The day has tradition where people express affection and valiance or responsibility towards the other.
Q5. Is Raksha Bandhan only a Hindu festival?
Ans- Raksha Bandhan being an Indian festival is secular with people of Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism recognizing the festival but observing it culturally. The festival has become celebrated beyond the religious context it originally started as and is seen as the festival of bond of love and togetherness.
Buddhists: Interestingly, Nepalese Buddhists also celebrate Raksha Bandhan festival and its tradition.
Jains: Raksha Bandhan is also observed where Jain priests tie rakhi to the devotees and offer ceremonial threads.
Sikhs: Among all the Indian communities, Sikhs in particular, note Raksha Bandhan as the “Rakhardi” or “Rakhari” festival.
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