Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan

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Traditionally, new brides return to their parents home in the month of Saawan (Hindu calendar month). The parents send the brother to bring her back for a visit. Saawan ends on Rakhi Purnima (full moon). The following song depicts the longing of a young bride. She is asking her father to send her brother to bring her back home in Saawan when all of her friends will be returning also.

ab ke baras bhejo bhaiya ko babul

Lyrics for ab ke baras bhejo bhaiya ko babul, sawan mei bhejo bulaaye re, lautengee jab mere bachpan ki sakhiyaan, de do sandesaa bhejaaye re

RAKSHA BANDHAN:

Sweets for the brother:

Rakhi for the brother:

Songs for the brother:

bhaiya mere rakhi ke bandhan

Lyrics for Bhaiya mere rakhi ke bandhan ko nibhana, bhaiya mere choti bahan ko na bhulana

Translation of the lyrics bhaiya mere rakhi ke bandhan ko nibhaanaa

rang birangi rakhi lekar aayi behna

Lyrics for Rang birangi rakhi le kar aayee behna o rakhi bandhwa le mere veer

chanda re mere bhaiya se kehna behn

Lyrics for Chanda re mere bhaiya se kehna behna yaad kare

mere bhaiya mere chanda mere anmol

Lyrics for Mere bhaiya mere chanda mere anmol ratan, tere badle mai zamane ki koi cheez na loon

The brother should have responded with some thing similar to the following song.

phulon ka taron ka sab ka kehna ha

Lyrics for phuulon ka taron kaa sab ka kehna hai, ek hazaaron mei meri behna hai, saari umar hamein sang rehna hai

Traditionally the brother gives a gift to his sister after she ties the rakhi on his wrist.

Rakhi: The Thread of Love

The chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister is one of the deepest and noblest of human emotions. 'Raksha Bandhan' or 'Rakhi' is a special occasion to celebrate this emotional bonding by tying a holy thread around the wrist. This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the ‘Rakhi’. It means 'a bond of protection'. Raksha Bandhan signifies that the strong must protect the weak from all that’s evil.

The ritual is observed on the full moon day or Purnima of the Hindu month of Shrawan or Sawan as it is better known, on which sisters tie the sacred Rakhi string on their brothers' right wrists, and pray for their long life. Rakhis are ideally made of silk with gold and silver threads, beautifully crafted embroidered sequins, and studded with semi precious stones. Brothers then promise to protect their sisters and traditionally they also offer their sisters gifts. The gift is not as important as the promise of protection and the love between the brother and the sister.

Rakhi in History
The strong bond represented by Rakhi has resulted in innumerable political ties among kingdoms and princely states. The pages of Indian history testify that the Rajput and Maratha queens have sent Rakhis even to the Mughal Emperors who, despite their differences, have assuaged their Rakhi-sisters by offering help and protection at critical moments and honoured the fraternal bond.

Make Colorful, Decorative RAKHI This Year

Raksha Bandhan - the Indian festival of tying the knot of amity, brotherhood and long life, is a symbol of seeking divine bliss. Not for the 'self'. But for man on whose wrist the thread is tied. 'Raksha' is the word for protection. 'Bandhan' is the bond. So it signifies the bond of protection. The protection is from the dark hands of the evils and against all perils. The protection that connotates - not just physical, but the spiritual one as well.

Materials needed:
Strands of silk threads-2/3
A pair of scissors
Cotton thread to tie knots
Beads, sitaras, golden threads and sponge to decorate
Glue
A toothbrush with hard bristles.

Method:

Take 20-24 inches long silk thread strands in a bunch. If you want to make multi coloured rakhis take silk threads of different colours.

Tie a tight knot with a cotton thread on the one-fourth part of the silken thread bunch. The one-fourth part will be made into a rakhi while the three-fourth will be the string to tie around the wrist.

Now make sure the heads of the silk threads of the one-fourth part of the bunch do not remain in loops, in case they are, cut them with a pair of scissors.

Once they are independent of loops, with a toothbrush rub hard on these threads and brush them with strong strokes by holding tight on the knot. With repeated strokes the silk threads turns fluffy and soft.

To make the string, divide the three-fourth part of the silk thread in two equal parts and plait them separately. At the end tie a knot and brush the end again.

Once this is done decorate it with beads or sitaras. Stick them with glue. You can purchase sponge of a suitable colour, cut it into a star shape, decorate it with beads or sitaras. Golden threads can be entwined used for decoration. And then stick it with glue.