RAKHI (RAKSHA BANDHAN)

RAKHI (RAKSHA BANDHAN)

Rakhi, also known as Raksha Bandhan, symbolises the deep bond of love, protection, and responsibility between siblings, especially sisters with brothers. The festival celebrates the unique relationship where a sister ties a sacred thread (the Rakhi) on their brother’s wrist, and brother, in return, promises to protect their sister. In the epic Mahabharata, Draupadi and Krishna are Rakhi siblings. Krishna cut his finger while handling sugarcane. Krishna’s wife, Queen Rukmini, sent someone to get bandages. However, Draupadi saw the incident, and she cut off part of her saree and tied it around his finger to stop the bleeding. Krishna then promised to help her out when she needed it. Several years later, Kauravas try to disrobe Draupadi in public, by unraveling her saree. Krishna uses his divine powers to make Draupadi’s saree never ending, so that she would not have to be disrobed in front of everyone. Beyond this core meaning, Rakhi also embodies the broader concept of safeguarding and nurturing relationships, extending to other familial bonds and even friendships. Rakhi represents a deep bond, protection, care, and love; the unbreakable bond between siblings, a visible reminder of their relationship; sisters often pray for their brothers' well-being and prosperity when tying the rakhi, imbuing it with spiritual significance; and in a broader sense, Rakhi can represent the idea of social responsibility and care for one another, extending to various relationships beyond the sibling bond. Rakhi has been used to symbolise national unity and solidarity, as seen in Rabindranath Tagore's use of the festival during the partition of Bengal.