Snippets of Information
Fairs / Festivals / Poojas - Raksha Bandhan
* 6 Aug 2025
According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Raksha Bandhan (the knot of protection) falls on the Purnima (Full Moon Day) of the Shravan month, a day when sisters tie the Raakhi
on their brothers wrists with heartfelt prayers for their well-being
and prosperity. The brothers reciprocate with gifts along with
their promise to take good care and protect them always.
The entire family celebrates with traditional sweets, celebrations and togetherness.
According to the Indian epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna once
cut his finger which prompted Draupadi to tear a piece of cloth from her
saree and tie it on his finger to stop the bleeding. From then on, the
piece of cloth became a sacred thread that symbolised the true meaning
of Raksha Bandhan!
Another legend speaks of how the tradition of Raksha Bandhan began. It
is said that King Bali's devotion to Lord Vishnu led the deity to
protect the kingdom, necessitating him to leave his abode. Lord Vishnu’s
wife Goddess Lakshmi could not stand the distance so, in disguise as a
Brahmin refugee, she tied a Rakhi on King Bali's wrist on Shravan
Purnima. Touched by her revelation, King Bali requested Lord Vishnu to
accompany Lakshmi to Vaikuntha. Since then, it's been a tradition to
invite one’s sister on Shravan Purnima for the auspicious tying of the
Raksha Bandhan thread.
During the Bengal partition, as the British contemplated dividing the
province, the renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore urged Muslims and Hindus
to tie the sacred thread of Rakhi on each other's hands. A stirring
moment unfolded as hundreds of people, resonating with unity, joyously
celebrated Rakhi across the historic towns of Dhaka, Kolkata, and
Chittagong.
Source: incredibleindia.gov.in
* 6 Aug 2025
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Muslim sister Qamar Mohsin Sheikh
has been tying rakhi to PM Modi for the last 30 years. She recalls
knowing Modi since the time he was a worker in the RSS. Once, when Modi
asked her how she was doing and addressed her as "sister", she began
tying rakhi.
Born into a Muslim family in Karachi, Sheikh moved to Ahmedabad after marrying Mohsin Sheikh in 1981.
Source: PM Modi's Muslim Sister Prepares 'Om', 'Lord Ganesha' Rakhis, Awaits PMO Invitation by Akash Sinha, Zee News
* 9 Aug 2025
In one of the most cherished legends, Draupadi once noticed Lord Krishna’s
finger bleeding - versions differ whether it was from battle or a
sugarcane cut - but her reaction was immediate and heartfelt. Tearing
off a piece of her sari, she tied it around his wound. That simple
gesture created a lifelong bond. Krishna, touched by her compassion,
vowed to protect her always - a vow that became her shield during the
most humiliating moment of her life, the disrobing in the Kaurava court.
In that moment, Rakhi became a symbol of unwavering protection and
divine promise.
* 9 Aug 2025
When Alexander the Great prepared for battle against the Indian king Porus, his wife Roxana
feared for his life. As legend has it, she sent a rakhi to King Porus,
asking him to spare Alexander. Porus, respecting the gesture, held back
his wrath in battle. This account - blending East and West, war and
mercy - reveals how a simple thread could halt swords and awaken
humanity.
Source: Raksha Bandhan: A Historical and Cultural Overview by BigBasket, a TATA Enterprise, August 6, 2025
* 9 Aug 2025
In a desperate hour, Rani Karnavati of Chittor, facing a siege from Bahadur Shah, sent a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun.
Though delayed, Humayun set out to help - but Chittor had fallen and
the queen had committed jauhar. Still, he honoured her gesture by
restoring her son to power. The rakhi here became a plea, a pact, and a
symbol of bonds that rise above blood, religion, or rule.
Source: Raksha Bandhan: A Historical and Cultural Overview by BigBasket, a TATA Enterprise, August 6, 2025
* 9 Aug 2025
Rakhi isn’t just about brothers anymore. Friends tie it to each other,
children tie it to teachers, neighbours, mentors, or even soldiers. It
has grown into a festival of voluntary bonds - chosen families, chosen
protectors.
Raksha Bandhan is more than a ritual - it’s a reminder of who we hold
close and who holds us back. In a world that drifts apart, this thread
quietly pulls us back together.
Source: Raksha Bandhan: A Historical and Cultural Overview by BigBasket, a TATA Enterprise, August 6, 2025
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