RAKSHA BANDHAN
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is observed on the full moon day of Shravana (July-August). This year it is on the 4th of August 2001.The world "Raksha" means protection. On this auspicious day women and girls tie an amulet-like thread round the right hand wrists of their brothers as a token of protection against evil during the ensuring year. The thread is called "Rakhi" and is made of a few colourful cotton or silk twisted threads. It can also be prepared from the threads of gold or silver. The brothers give their sisters gifts of money, clothes and other valuable things in return. Sisters feed their brothers with sweets, dry fruits and other delicacies on this occasion.
Priests and Brahmins also tie this kind of thread round the wrists of the right hands of their patrons and receive gifts. They recite a mantra or a sacred formula while doing so to charge the thread with the power of protection:
mantra: yena baddho balee raja danvendro mahabala teyen twam prati badhnami rached maachal maachal..
The thread charged with the power of the mantra protects the wearer from the possible evils.
According to Hindu scriptures Sachi, the consort of Indra, the god of heaven, tied such a mantra charged thread round the right wrist of her husband when he was disgraced in the battle by the demon forces. Indra fought again and gained a convincing victory over the demons, and recovered his lost capital Amaravati. The sacred amulet helped him in defeating the enemy.
In South India, this festival is called Avani Avittam. The Holy thread (Poonol) is changed and an holy water is offered to the ancestors and rishis on this occasion. The new thread is worshipped with saffron and turmeric paste before being worn, and the old one is discarded in the water of a pool, tank or a river. This day is specially significant for a Brahmin boy who has recently received the upanayan (holy thread). It reminds him of the glorious religious significance. Vedas are also read and recited on this day.
In Maharashtra this festival is celebrated as "Nariyal Poornima". On this day, the fisher folk offer coconuts and flowers to the sea-god Varun praying for a good fishing season. People exchange sweets, set up fairs, visit relatives and friends, and as is the fad nowadays sisters send 'rakhis' by post or better still by e-mail to brothers living far off , and remembering the Rishis and Gurus whom we are indebted for their guidance and spiritual knowledge, are other highlights of this festival.
In North India, the festival is celebrated in the month of Bhadra, and is called Saluno in Haryana.