Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan

RakshaBandhan,also Rakshabandhan, or simply Rakhi, is a festival celebrated by those either still living on the Indian subcontinent, or those living in other parts of the world whose ancestors sojourned on the Indian subcontinent after humanity's common origin in Africa, and centred around the tying of a thread, talisman, or amulet on the wrist as a form of ritual protection. The protection is offered principally by sisters to brothers, but also by priests to patrons, and sometimes by individuals to real or potential benefactors. Differing versions of the rite have been traditionally performed by Hindus in northern India, western India, Nepal,etc.

Raksha Bandhan is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month

of Shraavana, which typically falls in August. On this day, sisters of all ages tie a talisman, or amulet, called the rakhi, around the wrists of their brothers, ritually protecting their brothers, receiving a gift from them in return, and traditionally investing the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care.

Among women and men who are not blood relatives, there is also a transformed tradition of voluntary kin relations, achieved through the tying of rakhi amulets, which have cut across caste and class lines, and Hindu and Muslim divisions. Raksha Bandhan is also celebrated by Hindu communities in other parts of the world.