Hudson Reporter Archive

Raksha Banahan, the Indian Social Festival

Dear Editor:
India is a land of diversity with different languages, customs, culture and festivals. Rakshabandhan is the Indian social festival. It falls on full moon of Hindu Shravan month. This festival is called, ‘A Festival of Rakhi.’ Rakhi is a bracelet made of cotton or silk thread. Some bracelets are very simple but some are very decorative and costly. These decorative bracelets are decorated either pearls or small costly stones which look like diamonds. Even gold or silver is used in some valuable bracelets.
The Rakhi is a symbol of love between a brother and sister.
A sister marks (does) a chanla on her brother’s forehead with red kanku (one kind of chemical paste) and then she puts rice grains on it. After this she ties the Rakhi around the brother’s wrist. Then both of them feeds sweet one after another. Sister prays to God, to give her brother a healthy, long and prosperous life. Brother gives a valuable gift in cash form or an ornament. This festival Raksha Bandhan was observed on August 13, Saturday.

Bhikhubhai A. Patel

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