Raksha Bandhan
The threads called Rakhis which are tied by sisters on the wrists of their brothers on Raksha BandhanIt's the festival of Raksha Bandhan today in India also known as Rakhi. The literal translation of the word would be the bond of protection. It's celebrated to mark the love between a brother and sister and on this day sisters would tie a rakhi (thread with embellishments) on the wrist of their brothers and the brothers would vow to love and protect their sisters.
Historically it is believed that queens would tie threads or amulets on the arms of the kings when they went to fight battles for their long life and so that the Gods would look after them. The first recorded reference to the festival is from the times of Alexander. Alexander was overwhelmed by the Indian forces of King Porus. Roxana (Alexander's wife) had heard of the festival and made Porus her brother by tying a Rakhi. In the battlefield Porus was about to slay Alexander but saw the Rakhi and pardoned him. (This sequence of events isn't accepted in the West but Indian historians and also the movie by Oliver Stone states otherwise)
Another incident is that of Rani Karnavati the widow of the king of Chittor sending a rakhi and a plea for protection and help from the Mughal Emperor Humayun from Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujrat. He came to her help and protected her honour and her kingdom.
Well coming down to the present, the day was rather hectic with all my extended family i.e. my aunts and cousins landing at our house to celebrate and tie rakhi. My dad had already left for work (he is quite a workaholic) and mum was not feeling too good, leaving me to look after all the guest. My sister came in from another town but I was so caught up with everything that we didn't even get any time to catch up. There was the usual tying of rakhi, eating sweets and giving gifts to the sister. My sister and my dad aren't on talking terms because he doesn't approve of her husband and therefore we rarely see her. I wished on this occasion celebrating the bond of love between a brother and a sister I could have spend some more quality time with her.
Historically it is believed that queens would tie threads or amulets on the arms of the kings when they went to fight battles for their long life and so that the Gods would look after them. The first recorded reference to the festival is from the times of Alexander. Alexander was overwhelmed by the Indian forces of King Porus. Roxana (Alexander's wife) had heard of the festival and made Porus her brother by tying a Rakhi. In the battlefield Porus was about to slay Alexander but saw the Rakhi and pardoned him. (This sequence of events isn't accepted in the West but Indian historians and also the movie by Oliver Stone states otherwise)
Another incident is that of Rani Karnavati the widow of the king of Chittor sending a rakhi and a plea for protection and help from the Mughal Emperor Humayun from Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujrat. He came to her help and protected her honour and her kingdom.
Well coming down to the present, the day was rather hectic with all my extended family i.e. my aunts and cousins landing at our house to celebrate and tie rakhi. My dad had already left for work (he is quite a workaholic) and mum was not feeling too good, leaving me to look after all the guest. My sister came in from another town but I was so caught up with everything that we didn't even get any time to catch up. There was the usual tying of rakhi, eating sweets and giving gifts to the sister. My sister and my dad aren't on talking terms because he doesn't approve of her husband and therefore we rarely see her. I wished on this occasion celebrating the bond of love between a brother and a sister I could have spend some more quality time with her.
2 comments:
Hi Wandering Dervish!!! Thanks for telling us about Raksha Bandhan. I did not know about this festival. We only have Mother and Fathers' Days here in Australia. It is a nice idea to celebrate between brothers and sisters. Lucky there is not a festival for gay male friends because I wonder where the threads would be tied????? I have had my afternoon glass of wine , so please forgive my thoughts. BrentonX
Thanks for the comment Brenton. A bit of Mr Hyde doesn't harm anyone!!
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