Raksha Bandhan is on Wednesday 9
August 2006. Raksha means 'protection' and Bandhan means 'bond'.
Raksha-bandhan is a bond of protection. This festival is more popular in
northern India. Legend says that Indrani, the wife of Indra, started the
practice of tying a rakhi. When the gods suffered a terrible defeat at
the hands of the demons and Indra lost his kingdom, Indrani, following
Vishnu's advice, prepared a charm as prescribed by the sacred texts and
tied the thread around Indra's wrist. Indra easily defeated the demons
by virtue of this thread and won back his kingdom. Tying a rakhi
signifies the obligation of the strong to protect the weak. History
records many instances of Hindu queens sending rakhis to Muslim kings to
seek their help. Despite their differing faiths, the kings invariably
provided help and honoured the significance of rakshabandhan as a tie of
protection.
Raksha Bandhan is a day for feasting. Sweets of all kinds, mainly
Laddoos, Jalebis, Barfi, Balushai, Gulab Jamuns and Rasgullas are the
favourites.
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