Raksha Bandhan Festival of India

Raksha Bandhan is a festival of India which celebrates the strong bonds between a sister and her brother. The tying of the rakhi to the brother's wrist is the main ritual of this festival, symbolizing that the brother will protect and take care of his sister all his life, no matter what the circumstances. The word 'Raksha' means protection and the word 'Bandhan' means bond. A rakhi is thus literally a bond of protection.

For the Raksha Bandhan festival, sweets are prepared in advance and a rakhi is bought for the main Raksha Bandhan day. On that day, the sister has to prepare a traditional Raksha Bandhan puja thali (plate) containing a diya (a small earthern lamp with oil and wick), rice grains (called akshata), sweets, incense sticks, roli (red-yellow or red sacred powder-paste to apply the tilak), and a rakhi (more if more brothers). After bath and offering puja to the family deity, the  sister lights the diya on the thali, does aarti of her brother with the thali, throws the akshata, applies tilak, ties the rakhi and puts a sweet in her brother's mouth. The sister chants a prayer for the long life of  her brother and the brother then gives either money or a gift to his sister. This gift is symbolic too, as it indicates his love for his sister just as she has for him, and is sealing the pledge to protect her.

Rakhi Designs

Narali Purnima festival is also celebrated on this day.