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Find
some delicious recipies for this festive season
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Rakhi
as it is popularly called. The sister ties
a thread to her brother who in turn gives
her a gift, money. In these commercialized
times the thread has given way to Jumbo,
fancy, loud Rakhis.
By tying a Rakhi to a man, the women is
making him responsible for her safety. Its
a commitment from a brother that he would
take her care of her, financially, emotionally
etc. |
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The
word Raksha has a historical perspective to
it. My mind goes back to 1303 when Alauddin
Khilji, the Turk Afghan Delhi ruler invaded
Chittorgarh ( in Rajasthan ). Rani Padmini,
the King's wife sent out Rakhis to the Kings
of neighboring states. By doing so she implied
their sister was in danger and they should rush
their forces to protect her. This could be one
of the reason for the festivals popularity.
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This
festival is more popular in the North.
Since most of India's battle with foreign
invaders be it Alexander or the Muslims
were fought in the North, Raksha or
security of women folk was needed more
in the North than else where. Rape of
women, inevitably followed every military
loss.
The
festival indicates that women were treated
with respect in those times.
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Raksha
Bhandan is celebrated on the full-moon
day in the month of Sravana (July-August).
In North India, the occasion is popularly
called Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi, the tying
of an amulet. On this day, sisters tie
an amulet, the Rakhi, around the right
wrist of their brothers praying for their
long life and happiness. Raksha means
protection, and in some places in medieval
India, where women felt unsafe, they tied
Rakhi round the wrists of men they could
count upon, regarding them as brothers.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is similar
to Karthikay in Kartika (October-November)
in South India.
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On
this day, sisters offer food to brothers
to wish them a long life. The festival is
an occassion to strengthen the bond between
a brother and a sister. In South India,
The Raksha Bandhan full moon day is a household
festival for the men, where the sacred thread
is ceremoniously changed. Raksha Bandhan
is based on an ancient legend. The legend
goes that the gods were having a war with
the demons. The god Indra got help from
his wife. She tied a piece of silk around
his wrist to ward off the evil demons. With
the silk around his wrist, Indra beat back
the devils and got back his home in the
heavens. Today, Hindu girls with brothers
give them special bracelets woven of silk
(called rakhi) on this day.
The rakhi are made of red and gold thread.
They are a symbol of the bond between brothers
and sisters. When the sisters give their
brothers the rakhis, they give them candy
to eat as well. The brothers give their
sisters little gifts in return.
Narali Purnima
On the full moon day of Shravan, after one
or two months of heavy rains and strong
winds, the sea becomes calm. On this day
boats are allowed to launch into the sea
again. But before doing so the sea is worshipped
by throwing a coconut (“naral”)
into the water. In this way Varun, the god
of the water, is worshipped. |
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The
Coconut as “Prasad”
The coconut is a fruit full of symbolism.
It is known as “Shriphal”,
or “divine fruit”. Within
its hard shell it contains food and
drink, the two essential elements
God has placed in creation for man’s
nourishment. The hard shell expresses
God’s desire that man should
enjoy the fruits of the earth through
personal effort.
The coconut is the most common fruit
used as an offering to God. The effort
needed to break the shell represents
the element of sacrifice. The kernel
and the water are first offered to
God and then shared with all those
present, and also taken home to be
shared with relatives and neighbours
as “prasad”, or food blessed
by God.
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