Raksha Bandhan- 24th August 2010

Raksha Bandhan is the day to honour the loving bond between brothers and sisters. A day dedicated to brothers and sisters, their naughty banter and bullying revived long after they have grown up. A day to reinforce the loving relationship , to forget rivalries and to bask in the warmth of sibling love.On this day sisters seek their brothers undying love and support and brothers pledge to protect and standby by them through thick and thin.

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day ( Poornima) , of the 2nd half of the auspicious month of Shravan , according to the Hindu Calender. Sisters usually visit their brothers on this day. The brother usually present to  their sisters gifts of  cash ,sweets, clothes, jewellery etc.It is a day for nostalgia with good humoured bickering and feasting. Usually sisters in law cook up a feast for their husbands sisters. many communities also honour the extention of the brother sister bond to the brothers wife and children. The sisters tie fancy rakhis to their sisters in law, these rakhis called Loomba, are entwined in their bangles. The nephews too are given gifts and rakhis tied on their wrists.

Loomba

Rakhi

The rakhi tying is usually done as a complete ritual. The sisters prepare a thaali which contains vermilion (kumkum/roli)  paste , which is prepared by adding a little water or oil to vermillion powder, few grains of rice, sweets, rakhis, a small lamp filled with ghee and a wick. The lamp is lit and the sister first applies the vermillion markl on the brothers forehead, then places a few grains of rice on the mark and throws some over on head. She then ties the rakhi on his right wrist and feeds him a sweet. After this the thaali with the lit lamp is circulated thrice in clockwise direction . After this the sister ( if younger) touches the brothers feet and he then presents her with a gift .If the sister is older, the brother touches her feet and seeks blessings. He offers her a small gift as a token of his love and the sister in turns presents him with a gift and sweets. Then the sister in law's rakhi is tied and then the nephews'.
Then the feast begins. Typical sweets made during Rakhi are Jalebi , Imartis , Ghevar,

Jalebi

Imarti

Ghevar

How to make a Rakhi

Silk threads of any bright colour like red, orange, yellow, pink.
Golden/ silver bead/ rudraksh bead
silver/ gold thread
glue

Cut the coloured thread into 4 inch length, prepare 4-5 such lengths. String the bead or multiple beads through this bunch of beads. Towards mid-length tie a knot with the threads, so as to stop the bead/s from falling out.Apply glue to the space next to the knot towards the bead.Push the bead/s into the glued part of the threads.Make a knot on the other side after the beads.This will secure the bead/s .wind a bit of gold/ silver thread next to the knots. Glue the ends and ct off excess gold/ silver thread. Your Rakhi is ready.

4-5 inch length of satin ribbon of any bright colour
small embroidered motifs
small fabric swatch slightly smaller than the motif
glue
candle & matchbox

Using a lit candle, carefully seal the edges of the satin ribbon . Right at the centre of the ribbon, place the fabric swatch under the ribbon. Attach with glue. Once dried, place the motif on the top of the ribbon accurately over the swatch, so that the ribbon is firmly secured between the swatch and motif.
A simple and easy Rakhi.
For more info on Raksha Bandhan Rituals and info: Click Here.