Rakshabandhan or simply Rakhi is a Hindu festival celebrated in many parts of India. In simple words, Raksha bandhan means “Bond of Protection”. The festival celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters. It is also popularly used to celebrate any brother-sister relationship between men and women who may or may not be biologically related. On the day of the festival, a sister ties a rakhi (a thread) on her brother’s wrist. This symbolizes the sister’s love and prayers for her brother’s well-being, and the brother’s lifelong vow to protect her.
Source : Wikipedia
It’s been many years that I have not celebrated Rakhi with my brother and other cousins. We all live in different cities and every year I send Rakhis to them. The bond is not limited to that one day of the year and hence works fine for all of us.
This year, I wanted to bring some fun facts about the festival to all you readers of this blog.
Did you know,
- Whether younger or older, brothers are supposed to get a gift for their sister. It’s a part of the ritual and fun too. Who doesn’t like getting gifts – in cash or kind?
- Both brothers and sisters fast before the sister ties a Rakhi and they eat only when the ritual is complete. So, Rakhi is celebrated in the morning but falls on a full moon day.
- Most of the North Indian states have an official day off for Rakshabandhan. When my cousins call to wish me on the day of the festival, I am at work unlike them. Boring.
- In Haryana, the state declares free bus rides for women a day prior and on the day of the festival so that they can travel to their brother’s house and celebrate the festival. Not just that, an eighteen years or younger male adult accompanying the woman is also allowed the free to and fro ride.
- In western states of India, a sister also ties a lumba (a different kind of rakhi) on her sister-in-law’s wrist. It is a gesture of love and one that brings two sisters-in-law together.
- Courier services prioritize sending a Rakhi over any other delivery. The package is tagged with a symbol that indicates the content and ensures that the package reaches the destination before the day of the festival. I sent mine on Sunday and by Tuesday morning, they were all delivered. From Bangalore to New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Manipal. Less than 48 hours and no extra charges.
- Young girls carry Rakhi to shoo away stalkers. Yes, tying a Rakhi is a good threat to keep those unwelcoming male friends at bay. A rakhi once tied means the duo is now a brother and sister. Something that is also exploited a lot but still deserves a mention.
India is so diverse that the same festival has many forms as you move from one region to the other. This is something that has always fascinated me. Do you have something unique to share about Rakshabandhan?
Let me know in the comments below. 🙂
happiness and food 
A lot of gyan .. I did not know about many of the facts you have mentioned …
Bikram’s
LikeLike
Interesting. I thought you would know about the Haryana buses 😉
LikeLike
This is the first time I’ve heard about it – but it sounds like a wonderful thing to celebrate. What a great way to bring sisters and brothers together!
LikeLike
Yes it is. A happy festival.
LikeLike
I love the festival of raksha bandhan. I do miss not being around to tie a rakhi to my brother now. And fasting before tying a rakhi, we never did that. 🙂 Who will fast on such a fun day? Like you I also miss the holiday on this day.
LikeLike
Ha ha! Yeah – who will fast but the tradition says begin your day with sweets.
LikeLike
Wow, didnt know these fine nuances and tales of raksha bhandhan!!!
LikeLike
Glad you got to know some new things.
LikeLike
I have written one on Rakhi too:-) Interesting facts about this tradition. Many of the things are known but I clearly remember, we never fasted on Rakhi (we fast on ‘bhai dooj’ though!) but it was celebrated with great fanfare among all our neighbours as kids, when we were living in Kohima. As we grew older, things changed but we still follow it at home. I’m writing about a unique tradition of Rakhi in my post. Do read whenever time permits, Parul!
LikeLike
Yes it is a big celebration in the North as well. I’ll check your post Esha. I’m sure it will have some good information 🙂
LikeLike
Free bus rides and Rakhi to shoo away unwanted elements 😄…… I liked that 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Sunaina.
LikeLike
Wow!! These are such interesting facts. Other than taking the gifts in cash/kind I didn’t know about any of them 😛
The festival sure brings love, joy, laughter, warmth and happiness in the family.
I loved all the information you gave here 🙂
Cheers
LikeLike
Thank you Geetika. Yes – family time, food and joy!
LikeLike
This is so interesting! I really like the idea of a celebration of the brother-sister bond.
LikeLike
Yes, it is. Thanks, Ellen.
LikeLike
its a long time since i could not tie rakhi in person to my brothers as they live in different city but i love this festival very much . i wait for an year to get gift from them .
loved your post and fun facts behind it .
LikeLike
Thanks M 😉
LikeLike
Aha, this was nice to know. I was specifically looking out for shooing off stalkers point, since here in the south we don’t celebrate it much seriously, it is a threat for boys. 😛
LikeLike
Oh! It is. Almost like let’s bunk on Rakhi. Else Rakhi na bandhwani pade.
LikeLike
Interesting! Especially free bus rides in Haryana 🙂 yes, couriers having rakhi are delivered on priority. Observed that once.
LikeLike
I never knew about the courier thing until this year. Very nice and good thing. Thanks Vishal.
LikeLike
The last one is hilarious and so true. Suitors should keep away from their eye candies. Ha! I had two Raakhi sisters during my college days and never had a biological sister whom I miss.
LikeLike
Ha ha! I know. Thanks Vishal 🙂
LikeLike
I being a south Indian, raised in north India and studied in KV, I did know a few facts and loved the holiday which both of us miss now. And this is the first rakshabandan that we have missed since we knew of this festival.
Fasting I did not know, will do that from the next time. 😉
LikeLike
Ha ha! Don’t fast. Eating is always better 😉
LikeLike
Those are some interesting bits of trivia. I knew about the last one, though. I’m also reminded of the naive school days where we would tie Rakhis to all our “boy” friends. Total facepalm now when I think of it. Of course, we discontinued the practice when we grew older (and wiser??;))
LikeLike
Totally! So funny. 🙂
LikeLike
Some of those facts had me smiling. Our brothers were all far away so we only sent them rakhis by post. However I truly get to celebrate the day now with the twins though we have done away with the gifts and the fasting.
LikeLike
I know what you mean. Like my mum says she saw her childhood through us 🙂
LikeLike
Ha Ha Parul, the last one is priceless. Great thing to know that the mere presence of rakhi is enough to shoo away unwanted attention:))
LikeLike
I tell you I was scary for boys. Still is 😉
LikeLike