Raksha Bandhan
raksha bandhan popular traditionally hindu annual rite ceremony central festival name celebrated south asia also celebrated part world significantly influenced hindu culture day sister age tie talisman amulet called rakhi around wrist brother sister symbolically protect brother receive gift return traditionally invest brother share responsibility potential care raksha bandhan observed last day hindu lunar calendar month shravana typically fall august expression raksha bandhan sanskrit literally bond protection obligation care principally applied ritual midth century expression commonly applied similar ritual held day precedence ancient hindu text ritual domestic priest tie amulet charm thread wrist patron change sacred thread receives gift money still case place contrast sisterbrother festival origin folk culture name varied location rendered saluno silono rakri ritual associated saluno included sister placing shoot barley behind ear brother special significance married woman raksha bandhan rooted practice territorial village exogamy bride marries natal village town parent custom visit married home rural north india village exogamy strongly prevalent large number married hindu woman travel back parent home every year ceremony brother typically live parent nearby sometimes travel sister married home escort back many younger married woman arrive week earlier natal home stay ceremony brother serve lifelong intermediary sister married parental home well potential steward security urban india family increasingly nuclear festival become symbolic continues highly popular ritual associated festival spread beyond traditional region transformed technology migration factor played role movie social interaction promotion politicized hinduism well nation state among female male blood relative act tying rakhi amulet given rise tradition voluntary kin relation sometimes cut across line caste class religion authority figure included ceremony according oxford english dictionary third edition hindi word rākhī derives sanskrit rakṣikā join rakṣā protection amulet rakṣ protect ikā diminutive suffix first attested use english language date james tod ann antiq rajasthan p festival bracelet rakhi spring rajpoot dame bestows rakhi title adopted brother acceptance secures protection cavaliere servente scandal never suggests tie devotion forbes dictionary hindustani english saluno full moon sawan time ornament called rakhi tied around wrist platts dictionary urdu classical hindi english راکهي राखी rākhī p h راکهي राखी rākhī रक्षिका sf piece thread silk bound round wrist festival salūno full moon sāvan either amulet preservative misfortune symbol mutual dependence mark respect festival thread tied—rākhībandhan sf festival called rākhī monierwilliams sanskrit–english dictionary rakshā sort bracelet amulet mysterious token used charm piece thread silk bound round wrist partic occasion esp full moon śrāvaņa either amulet preservative misfortune symbol mutual dependence mark respect jack goody ceremony involves visit woman brother specific day year tie gaudy decoration right wrist brother defence misfortune symbol dependence mark respect – hindi sabd sagara राखी — संज्ञा स्त्री सं रक्षा वह मंगलसूत्र जो कुछ विशिष्ट अवसरों पर विशेपतः श्रावणी पूर्णिमा के दिन ब्राह्मण या और लोग अपने यजमानों अथवा आत्मीयों के दाहिने हाथ की कलाई पर बाँधते हैं। mangalsutra lucky auspicious thread special occasion especially full moon day month shravani brahmin others tie around right wrist patron intimate adarsh hindi shabdkosh रक्षा संज्ञा स्त्रीलिंग कष्ट नाश या आपत्ति से अनिष्ट निवारण के लिए हाथ में बंधा हुआ एक सूत्र बंधन पुलिंग श्रावण शुक्ला पूर्णिमा को होनेवाला हिंदुओं का एक त्यौहार जिसमे हाथ की कलाई पर एक रक्षा सूत्र बाँधा जाता है transl raksha feminine noun thread worn around wrist prevention distress destruction tribulation misfortune bandhan masculine hindu festival held day full moon month shravana raksha thread tied around wrist oxford hindi–english dictionary रक्षा बंधन hindi festival rakshabandhan held full moon month savan sister tie talisman rakhi qv arm brother receive small gift money samsad bengali–english dictionary রাখি rākhi piece thread one tie round wrist another order safeguard latter evil ̃পূর্ণিমা n full moon day month shravan শ্রাবণ rakhi tied round wrist another ̃বন্ধন n act festival tying rakhi রাখি round wrist another oxford urdu–english dictionary راکھے rakhi hinduism rakhi bracelet red yellow string tied woman round wrist man hindu festival set brotherly relation بندھن – bandhan festival rakhi scholar written ritual usually described traditional region observance north india however also included central india western india nepal well region india overseas hindu community fiji essentially hindu festival however addition india nepal pakistan mauritius two country hindu celebrate occasion anthropologist jack goody whose field study conducted nandol gujarat describes rakshabandhan annual ceremony northern western india anthropologist michael jackson writes traditional north indian family father mother day even equivalent valentine day sister day called raksha bandhan religious scholar j gordon melton describes primarily north indian festival leona anderson pamela young describe one popular festival north india anthropologist david g mandelbaum described annual rite observed northern western india description primary region development economist bina agarwal northern india nepal ritualized festival rakshabandhan scholar activist ruth vanita festival widely celebrated north india anthropologist james faubion north india brothersister relationship formalized ceremony rakshabandhan social scientist prem chowdhry noticeable revival raksha bandhan festival renewed sanctity claimed north india sociologist yogendra singh noted contribution american anthropologist mckim marriott understanding origin raksha bandhan festival rural society according marriott steady interplay two cultural tradition elite great tradition based text veda indian society local little based folk art literature according singh marriott shown raksha bandhan festival origin little tradition anthropologist onkar prasad suggested marriott first consider limitation within village tradition operates retain essence village study marriott described two concurrently observed tradition full moon day shravana little tradition festival called saluno great tradition festival raksha bandhan marriott call charm tying saluno day many husband arrive wife village ready carry village marriage going husband wife well unmarried village sister express concern devotion brother placing young shoot barley locally sacred grain head ear brother brother reciprocate small coin day along ceremony saluno according literary precedent bhavisyottara purana ceremony charm tying rakhi bandhan raksha bandhan also held brahman domestic priest kishan garhi go patron tie upon wrist charm form polychrome thread bearing tassel plum priest utters vernacular blessing rewarded patron cash ceremony exist side side two end process primary transformation norwegian anthropologist øyvind jaer fieldwork eastern uttar pradesh noted great tradition festival retreat little tradition one involving sister brother important important great tradition chapter uttara parva bhavishya purana hindu god krishna describes yudhishthira ritual raksha protection tied right wrist royal priest rajpurohit purnima full moon day hindu lunar calendar month shravana crucial passage krishna say parth applied three son kunti also pritha particular empasis yudhishthira sky covered cloud earth dark new tender grass shravana month full moon day time sunrise according remembered convention brahmin take bath perfectly pure water also according ability offer libation water god paternal ancestor prescribed veda task required accomplished study veda sage directed god carry bring satisfactory conclusion shradh ceremony honor deceased commended shudra also make charitable offering take bath accompanied mantra day early afternoon noon pm commended small parcel bundle packet prepared new cotton silk cloth adorned whole grain rice barley small mustard seed red ocher powder made exceedingly wondrous placed suitable dish receptacle purohit bind packet king wrist wordsi binding raksha protection true word bound mahabali king asura always stay firm resolve manner king offering prayer brahmin brahmin kshatriya vaishyas shudra conclude raksha bandhan ceremony special significance married woman raksha bandhan rooted practice territorial village exogamy—in bride marries natal village town parent custom visit married home anthropologist leo coleman writes rakhi local performance kishan garhi part festival connection outmarrying sister villageresident brother affirmed traditional form rite according marriott sister exchanged brother ensure ability recourse—at crisis childbearing—to natal village relative even leaving husband home part brother engaging exchange affirmed otherwise hardtodiscern moral solidarity natal family even sister marriage rural north india village exogamy strongly prevalent large number married hindu woman travel back parent home every year ceremony scholar linda hess writes brother typically live parent nearby sometimes travel sister married home escort back many younger married woman arrive week earlier natal home stay ceremony folklorist susan snow wadley writes savan greenness abounds newly planted crop take root wet soil month joy gaiety swing hanging tall tree girl woman swing high sky singing joy gaiety marked woman especially young one expected return natal home annual visit savan brother serve lifelong intermediary sister married parental home well potential steward security village study anthropologist mckim marriott noted transformation ritual begun take place secondary transformation festival charm tying also beginning evident kishan garhi thread charm priest factorymade attractive form sister kishan garhi taken tying charm priestly type onto brother wrist new string charm also convenient mailing letter distant citydwelling brother sister cannot visit auspicious day beals report furthermore brother electrified village namhalli near bangalore tuned india radio order receive time signal astrologically exact moment tied charm wrist accompaniment broadcast sanskrit mantra urban india family increasingly nuclear marriage always traditional festival become symbolic continues highly popular ritual associated rite however spread beyond traditional region transformed technology migration according anthropologist leo coleman modern rakhi technologically mediated performed manufactured charm migrating men medium village woman interact vertically cosmopolitan center—the site radio broadcast source technological good national solidarity hindi movie played salient role according author vaijayanti pandit raksha bandhan traditionally celebrated north india acquired greater importance due hindi film lightweight decorative rakhis easy post needed large quantity market cater brother sister living different part country abroad social interaction among india population played role increased celebration festival according author renuka khandekar since independence gradual opening indian society raksha bandhan celebrated north india affection many south indian family festival peculiar charm renewing sibling bond festival also promoted hindu political organization according author p joshy k seethi rss employ cultural strategy mobilise people festival observes six major festival year till year back festival like raksha bandhan unknown south indian shakhas intense campaign become popular southern india college school tying rakhi—the thread used raksha bandhan—has become fashion popularised rss abvp cadre similarly according author christophe jaffrelot ceremony occurs cycle six annual festival often coincides observed hindu society hedgewar inscribed ritual calendar movement varsha pratipada hindu new year shivajirajyarohonastava coronation shivaji guru dakshina raksha bandhan north indian festival sister tie ribbon round wrist brother remind duty protector ritual rss reinterpreted way leader shakha tie ribbon around pole saffron flag swayamsevaks carry ritual one another mark brotherhood finally nation state india promoted festival leo coleman state citizen become participant wider new tradition national state broadcast mantra become emblem new level state power mean integration villager city dweller alike new community citizen recently enactment genderneutral inheritance law india suggested community festival seen resurgence celebration serving indirectly pressure woman abstain fully claiming inheritance according author prem chowdhry rural patriarchal force anxiously devising mean stem progressive fallout act variety mean one way oppose inheritance right daughter sister brother except case brother sister either sign away favour brother sell nominal price code conduct observed knowingly natal conjugal family brothersister bond love also greatly encouraged visible noticeable revival raksha bandhan festival renewed sanctity claimed north india among woman men blood relative also transformed tradition voluntary kin relation achieved tying rakhi amulet cut across caste class line hindu muslim division community context figure matriarch person authority included ceremony ritual acknowledgement benefaction according author prem chowdhry symbolic protection also requested high caste men low caste woman work relationship situation ritual thread offered though tied higher caste men customarily give money return raksha bandhan celebrated various part india different region mark day different way state west bengal day also called jhulan purnima prayer puja krishna radha performed sister tie rakhi brother wish immortality political party office friend educational institution celebrate day new hope good relationship maharashtra among koli community festival raksha bandhan rakhi pournima celebrated along narali pournima coconut day festival kolis fisherman community coastal state fisherman offer prayer varuna hindu god sea invoke blessing throw coconut sea offering girl woman tie rakhi brother wrist elsewhere many region north india common practice fly kite nearby occasion janamashtami raksha bandhan local buy kilometre strong kite string commonly called gattu door local language along multitude kite nepal raksha bandhan referred janai purnima rishitarpani involves sacred thread ceremony observed hindu buddhist nepal hindu men change thread wear around chest janai part nepal girl woman tie rakhi brother wrist raksha bandhanlike brother sister festival observed hindu nepal one day tihar diwali festival festival observed shaiva hindu popularly known newar community gunhu punhi odisha raksha bandhan also called rakhi purnima gamha purnima sister tie rakhi around brother wrist mark love honour brother promise protect sister difficulty name gamha purnima refers celebration day birthday lord balabhadra considered god farming farmer odisha tie rakhis cattle day religious myth claimed basis raksha bandhan disputed historian consider historical story associated apocryphal film jai santoshi maa tell story ganesha two son shubha labha two boy became frustrated sister celebrate raksha bandhan asked father ganesha sister avail finally sage narada appeared persuaded ganesha daughter would enrich well son ganesha agreed created daughter named santoshi maa divine flame emerged ganesh wife riddhi amazing siddhi perfection thereafter shubha labha literally holy profit sister named santoshi maa literally goddess satisfaction tie rakhi raksha bandhan according author lawrence cohen varanasi paired figure usually called ṛddhi siddhi gaṇeśas relationship often vague mālik owner often dasīs patnīs wife yet gaṇeśa married albeit within marriage different divine match lack clear familial context context recently emerged popular film jai santoshī mā film build upon text also recent vintage gaṇeśa daughter neophyte goddess satisfaction santoshī mā film role gaṇeśa family man developed significantly santoshī mās genesis occurs rāksa bandan gaṇeśas sister visiting tying rākhī call bahenmansa—his mindborn sister gaṇeśas wife ṛddhi siddhi also present son śubha lābha boy jealous unlike father sister tie rākhī woman plead father avail narada appears convinces ganesha creation illustrious daughter reflect much credit back onto ganesha assent ṛddhi siddhi emerges flame engenders santoshī mā film historian anja wieber describes manufacture modern widespread indian legend movie sikandar sikandar daring roxane follows alexander incognito india manages gain admission king porus indian version puru conversation young friendly indian village woman named surmaniya roxane learns indian feast rakhi celebrated moment purpose strengthening bond sister brother – occasion sister tie ribbon ie rakhi brother arm symbolize close relationship brother offer present assistance return besides roxane also told relationship need one consanguinity every girl choose brother therefore decides offer rakhi king porus accepts relationship hesitation feel need apologize roxane dariuss aka daras daughter helped father asked assistance alexander result bond offer gift befitting rank promise harm alexander – later porus come handtohand combat greek king stand promise spare interestingly rakhi episode porus still day popular india cited early historical evidence origin authentic hindu festival called raksha bandhan although example legend traced internet forum indian newspaper childrens book educational video able find ancient origin another controversial historical account rani karnavati chittor mughal emperor humayun date ce rani karnavati widowed queen king chittor realised could defend invasion sultan gujarat bahadur shah sent rakhi emperor humayun emperor according one version story set troop defend chittor arrived late bahadur shah already captured rani fortress alternative account period including historian humayuns mughal court mention rakhi episode historian expressed skepticism whether ever happened historian satish chandra wrote according midseventeenth century rajasthani account rani karnavati rana mother sent bracelet rakhi humayun gallantly responded helped since none contemporary source mention little credit given story humayuns memoir never mention give different reason war sultan bahadur shah gujarat bhai dooj festival observed day raksha bandhan sibling day friendship bracelet raksha bandhan celebrated raksha bandhan know india – festival government india raksha bandhan government odisha india