Every year you witness
the vivid pomp and splendour of the festival called Raksha Bandhan, when you
shop for gifts, clothes, eatables for the occasion. This is an auspicious occasion
to rekindle the sibling love. However, there certainly is so much more to it
than these customs and traditions. Here are 7 tales which tell how Rakhis
formed an important part of history at various junctures:
I.
King Porus or Puru as he is popularly known in India; combated Alexander
the Great in a Battle of Hydapses in 326 BC. Puru was an outright Hindu king
who received a sacred thread from wife of Alexander the Great, along with a request
of avoiding to harm him during the course of battle. Puru honoured the sacred
thread when he was on the battle field. He was about to slay Alexander when his
vision fell on the thread tied on his wrist which prevented him from making
that attack.
II.
Famous since ages as a ‘protection thread’ Rakhi was sent by Queen Karmavati of Chittor to Humayun
seeking protection from Bahadur Shah.
III.
At the turbulent time of partition of Bengal
in 1905, there was total communal chaos between Hindus and Muslims. It was then
when first Nobel Laureate of India Rabindranath Tagore used the festival of ‘Rakshabandhan’
to propagate peace by calling people of both sects to tie Rakhis to each other
and live in brotherhood.
IV.
Shishupali’s death left Lord Krishna with a bleeding
finger which was attended by Draupadi as she tied a strip torn off her silk
saree around Krishna’s wrist. This simple gesture of care touches Lord Krishna
immensely causing him to announce himself her protector. Krishna promised to
pay back this debt many folds, which he did.
V.
As per the famous tale, Guru Brihaspati
asked Sachi the wife Indra to tie Rakhi around her husband’s wrist ensuring
that he is victorious in battle against Vrita, the King of Asuras to which he
had previously lost his kingdom.
VI.
King
Bali sort Lord Vishnu’s help in restoring his kingdom conquered by enemies, to
which the Lord consented. Goddess Laxmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu concerned for
his well-being made it to Bali’s mansion disguised as a Brahmin woman and on
the day of Shravan Purnima revealed her purpose of being there and tied a
revered thread on Bali’s wrist. Moved by the love she had for her husband, Bali
then requested Lord Vishnu not to leave his abode. The festival is hence also
known as ‘Belva.’ And is symbolic of Bali’s devotion for Lord Vishnu.
Now
that you have your eyes open about the significance of this festival both
mythological and historic, we believe you are ready to shop for it? Visit www.theethnicroute.com
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