Rakhi: Yesterday and Today
Welcome to the festival season! Today marks the beginning of the festivals with Raksha Bandhan, or, as it is more commonly called, Rakhi. Whether you are a brother, a sister, or even an only child with a “sibling” outside of your family, you no doubt are familiar with the tradition in which the sister ties a thread around her brother’s wrist as a sign of affection, in return for a promise of protection. Maybe you even decorate a rhaki thali with sweets yourself! But do you know how this celebration came into being?
The origin of Raksha Bandhan (meaning ‘bond of protection’) traces all the way back to the times of myth, perhaps most famously from a story about a war between the Gods and the Demons. The Lord Indra, facing defeat by Daitya Raja, the demon king, went to his Guru Brihaspati, and supplicated him for help. Guru Brihaspati told him to wind a sacred thread around his wrist. Indra’s wife Sachi tied the Raksha on her husband, spurring the Gods on to victory.
Another legend associates Lakshmi, Vishnu and King Bali with this day. Having sworn to guard King Bali’s kingdom, Vishnu abandoned Lakshmi and his home in Vaikunth. Lakshmi, desiring her lord back, disguised herself and went to Bali to ask his protection while her husband was away on a long errand. On Shavran Purnima, she tied a thread around the Demon King’s wrist, and he promised to grant her a favor. She requested that her husband be returned to her, and revealed herself as the Goddess; Bali, overcome, told Vishnu to return with his wife. But as Vishnu had sworn to protect Bali, he could not comply, until the guardianship of Bali was split up between Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma.
Raksha Bandhan is also said to be practiced by Lord Yama, the Lord of Death, and his sister Yamuna. When Yamuna tied the sacred thread on her brother’s wrist, she gave him immortality in exchange for his protection. Touched, Yama proclaimed that anyone who swore protection to Yamuna upon receiving a rahki from her would also become immortal.
Meanwhile, historical legends of rahki-tying date back to 326 B.C. Before a battle between Alexander and Porus, Alexander’s wife approached Porus before the battle between the two was to take place, and tied a thread around the noble enemy’s wrist, making him promise not to harm her husband. Purportedly, when Porus met Alexander on the battlefield, he saw the rakhi as he lifted his arm to deal a blow, and stayed his hand instead.
Though not as mythical as the heroes in these tales, Bollywood’s celebrities recount their plans and affection for this celebration. Urmila Matondkar finds it “one of the most beautiful celebrations of one of the sweetest relationships,” and believes in participating in the ritual every year. “Usually I celebrate it by personally going to my brother’s house and tying the rakhi,” she said. “I don’t believe in shortcuts, like just sending the rakhi over.” Meanwhile, celebrity brothers weigh in just as fondly: Sonu Sood was quoted as saying, “This is one festival I look forward to always. The feeling of wearing a rakhi always was great since childhood. But now it is a reminder of responsibility.”