Friday, September 21, 2007

Raksha Bandhan Festival in India

Raksha Bandhan festival is always celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month Shraavana in all parts of India. According to English calendar, it usually falls in the month of August. Rakhi is being celebrated since ancient time and its popularity seems to be increasing with every passing year in all parts of India. The festival spells its magic on brothers and sister of all ages and creed. The Hindi word 'raksha' signifies protection and 'bandhan' means bond. Hence, Raksha Bandhan signifies that the strong must protect the weak from all that is evil.

Rakhi is celebrated with great excitement and joy across India and other parts of the world too, where Indians reside. From early morning everybody starts getting ready for this special occasion. On this Special Rakhi Day people generally prefer to wear traditional attires. Men mostly wear kurta pyjama on this occasion whereas women prefer to wear sari or salwar suits, which is mainly Indian tradition.

Raksha Bandhan is a special festival in Hindu religion that celebrates the bond between brother and sister by tying a holy thread around the wrist of brother. This thread is known as 'Rakhi.' The sister conducts aarti before her brother and put tilak of roli and rice on his forehead, so that he is blessed by God. It is believed that the thread tied by the sister has the power of protecting the brother.

After the ceremony is over, the sister feed the brother with sweets. The brother in return bestows gifts upon her, usually in the form of a small sum of money or gifts and he vows to look after or take care of his sister for her entire life.

With time, the Rakhi thread has become more fashionable and more trendy. It has become a fusion of tradition and modern lifestyle of people. The following are few of the types of rakhi available in the online Indian market: Gold Rakhi, Zardosi Rakhi, Pearl Rakhi, Silver Rakhi, Kids Rakhi and Fancy Rakhi.

The online sweet shop has different delicious sweets and gift shops have diverse range of rakhis and gifts to attract the buyers, young and old. Nowadays, chocolates and cookies are being looked as other options to the sweets that are exchanged. It is a much-awaited festival for the siblings. Not just a thread tying ceremony, it is the reunion and the awe-inspiring sentiments that call for the celebration.