1. Raksha Bandhan

2. Raksha Bandhan A Hindu Festivalwhen Brothers and Sistersstrengthen and celebrate their love andcommitment to each other. 3. Raksha Bandhan Rakhi: The Thread of Love In India, festivals are the celebration oftogetherness, of being one of the family. Raksha Bandhan is one such festival that is allabout affection, fraternity and other sacred andsublime sentiments. This is an occasion to lavish love, care, affectionand commitment towards each other and To strengthen families and develop a sacred feelingof sisterly / brotherly devotion and oneness. 4. The Bond of Protection At this festival, sisters tie a sacred threadcalled a Raksha or Rakhi around thewrist of their brother as part of a Puja orservice of worship. What exactly is the power of this threadand what does Raksha Bandhan mean? Raksha is the Sanskrit term for protectionand Bandhan signifies a tie orrelationship, so Raksha Bandhan in effectsignifies a bond of protection betweentwo people. 5. Protection It is believed that when a woman ties aRakhi to the wrist of a man on the festiveday of Raksha Bandhan, he is then bound toprotect and help her throughout his life. Butthe bond of protection is not a one wayprocess. The Rakhi is thought to have a dualeffect. For the man the Rakhi ensures protection bythe heavenly forces. In fact, during times ofwar, women have tied Rakhis to unknownsoldiers so that they will be protected fromharm, and so they will be victorious andsuccessful in protecting the nation. 6. At Purnima (full moon)in the month of Shraavana(it usually falls in August)the shops fill with Rakhiand Greetings CardsSisters can buyReady-madeRakibutmany prefer tomake theirown. 7. How Raksha Bandhan is celebrated. India is a vast country and the practises varyslightly from one part to another but this sacredthread is given as part of a ritual of worship. It issaid that the small thread is stronger than an ironchain because it symbolises the unbreakable lovethat brother and sister feel for each other. Preparations begin weeks before hand as the house iscleaned and both sisters and brothers may want to wearnew clothes, so there is shopping to do for clothes andcards and the Rakhi itself to buy or make. The brothers willbe choosing or making presents to give their sisters too. The sisters may have her hands decorated with Mendhipatterns.Mendhi patterns are popular for any specialoccasion. As with most things, the more effort you put intopreparation, the better the result is likely to be. 8. Practical Rituals of RakshaBandhan On the day of Raksha Bandhan, each sister will tie a raksha (rakhiin Hindi) on the right wrist of her brother(s). Before that, she will perform the following rituals of puja because itis a sacred ceremony. Puja is an act of Hindu worship. Some Hindus might describe the inner meaning of Raksha Bandhanas a pledge to each other made in the sight or presence of Godblessed by God as a way also of strengthening their own innerrelationship with God and opening themselves to His Protection. All the things needed for the ceremony are laidout on a tray beforehand. A lamp or candle is lit. Incense sticks are lit, allmaking for an atmosphere of prayer andworship. Puja often begins by ringing a bell or blowing aconch-shell trumpet. 9. Celebrating Raksha Bandhan continued First the sister will make a mark on her brothers forehead with a coloured powder called kumkum. This is usually made from powdered turmeric or saffron which is yellow. (If it is mixed with lime (an alkali) it gives a bright red colour. The shops sell powders of many other colours too.) Kumkum is most often applied by Hindus to the forehead. The reason for this particular location has to do with the ancient Hindu teaching that the human body is divided into seven vortices of energy, called chakras, beginning at the base of the spine and ending at the top of the head. The sixth chakra, also known as the third eye, is centered in the forehead directly between the eyebrows and is the channel through which humankind opens spiritually to the Divine. Thus the kumkum is placed at the location of the body which Hindusbelieve to be the most holy and it reminds them that we have two outer eyes to see the outer physical world, but there is another world the inner spiritual world which is also important. We need to open our inner eye to see that. 10. Celebrating Raksha Bandhan continued - In some families, the sister then places a flower garland around her brothers neck, a garland which she will probably have made herself (girls who are old enough to use a needle and thread). You can buy flowers to use to make the garlands, in the market. The sister then may take the lamp or candle which is usually placed on a tray used for worship and circle this in front of her brother. The candle-flame represents Gods Light and human aspiration - the way our inner cry reaches up towards God in prayer. The flame also symbolises Agni, the Fire God who is invoked during most ceremonies of worship in Hinduism. The sister may sing a special puja song at that time. But since many of the sisters are quite young children, not old enough to handle candles and incense safely or know the puja songs, this part is not always carried out. Next is the most important part of the puja. The sister ties the rakhi on her brothers right wrist. Finally, the sister feeds her brother usually placing a whole sweet in his mouth. 11. Celebrating Raksha Bandhan continued - A brother may place his hand on his sisters head which is away of giving blessings and conveying the deepest love andrespect a symbolic gesture to show he appreciates thesignificance of the event and he really will be there for hissister should she ever need his help. Then, in In return for his sisters devotion, the brotherpresents a gift to his sister. Later that day the whole family celebrate together. They maygo to visit- or welcome visiting relatives and end the daywith a party or a special meal. There is usually a great atmosphere of joy,oneness, friendship and love. This exchange of Raksha Bandhans is not restricted tosister and brother. It represents a bond and a relationship soit may be celebrated to strengthen (brotherly rather thanromantic) friendships, too. 12. We would like to ackowledgeand thank the many online sources viewed in preparing this resource, especiallythe websitehttp://www.raksha-bandhan.com I hope that all whose photographs havebeen used will be happy and proud to be included in this free resource - but shouldany copyright questions arise we will behappy to make any adjustments necessary. 13. If you enjoyed this Slide Show and wouldlike a copy in book form - or if you have any feedback or comments,please contact the author durgamata www.bluelotus.co If you would like DurgaMata to come and give atalk to your class, take an Assembly, give aworkshop on Community Cohesion or on anyaspect of Religious Education - to your school,faith or community group then please do not hesitate to get in touch dcbluelotus@gmail.com Blue Lotus Enterprises 2013