Rakshabandhan – The Ties of Love

Rakshabandhan or Rakhi is a festival of brothers and sisters, to remind us brothers the responsibility to save and protect our sisters. Originally, sisters used to tie a colorful thread on the wrist of brothers and brothers in return would give the promise and small gift to the sister… Like everything else, things have changed here too, the promise remains the same but the threads are getting fancier and magical as well. Now, alot of sisters prefer to get watches, gold/silver bracelets for their brothers, those who want traditional thread like Rakhis, they to have facier options now. Like the shop in the above picture is an upmarket Rakhi store selling exclusive designer Rakhis and a variety of healing Rakhis or Feng Shui Rakhis! In fact, I am surprised how Chinese are making their way into even Indian Mythology! They were selling rakhis with specific area of healing, like Success, Career, Money, Relaxation Rakhis etc. I don’t know how do these work and how much truth is their in healing powers of these bracelets.

The origin of Rakshabandhan goes back in 15th Century, when Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a thread to Mughal Emperor Humayun to protect her empire from then King of Gujrat Bahadur Shah. The Emperor was so touched by the gesture, that he abandoned an ongoing military campaign to ride to her rescue. Which makes it a secular festival, to be celebrated by both Hindus and Muslims… but I wonder when and how the legend of Goddess Laxmi and the Demon King Bali originated and marked a claim on the festival. Though what I really hate is how our media is making superstitions popular into our society again, they pundits now try to decide the time to tie a Rakhi! I give a rats ass to them!

To me, this remains a day dedicated to my sisters. I can’t thank them enough, ‘cos they are the ones who made me what I am today. I respect women because of them. I have some sensitivity left in me ‘cos of them. They really made me a better man. Thank you sisters. Wish you a very Happy Rakhi to you. And you know I am there for you, always!