Raksha Bhandhan

Today (2 August 2012) Raksha Bhandhan is being celebrated world wide!

Raksha Bhandhan is the love between a brothers and sisters. The process of Raksha Bhandhan involves a sister tying a thread (Rakhi) for her brother on his wrist which symbolises her love and prayers for his well-being as well as the brother's vow to protect her for her life!

According to the Times of India, "President Mukherjee of New Delhi said in his message Raksha Bandhan is the celebration of the unique relationship that exists between brothers and sisters. "The tying of a Rakhi by a sister symbolizes love, affection and mutual trust between sisters and brothers. May the spirit of this festival strengthen fraternal feelings in our society, and remind us of the importance of unity and harmony, as we strive collectively for the well-being of our people," he added."

I'm not sure on the exact process, but here in South Africa, Johannesburg in particular, the process of tying a Rakhi is accompanied by making a chanlo (red dot) with kum-kum on the brother's forehead and a grain or two of raw rice to be stuck on the chanlo. Ymmyness is also involved by feeding the brother a sweet-meat such as burfee or laddu/penda.  In Johannesburg, it is unclear as to why a plate/mug/dish (piece of crockery) is given and why the sister receives a gift in return. In some ways the essence of Raksha Bhandhan is lost in this process.

I was quite astounded to see that Raki's are now retailing at R8.00 a piece! For the past few years my sister and I make our own Rakhi's at home which I might add is rather fun! This way, the Rakhi wont irritate your brother and will stay on longer :) It also signifies a bit of sentimentality in the sense that it was hand made.

Although if you do fancy bling bling here's some alternatives.The Different Rakhis available from the Times Of India site were as follows:

Mouli: It is the good old red and yellow coloured thread, extensively used as part of Hindu customs and rituals. It is also known as kalava.

Beaded rakhi: Just a wee bit more elaborate than the plain thread, these rakhis come with colourful plastic or wooden beads. Perfect for someone who likes to keep the celebration simple.




Sandalwood rakhi: These rakhis have motifs made using sandalwood. A whole lot of people opt for the 'chandan' rakhi, which emits a heady fragrance. (This actually smells really good! I love the chandan scent)




Cartoon rakhi: To pamper your little brothers, go for threads with cartoon characters like Tweety, Mickey Mouse, Pokemon, Doremon and Chhota Bheem. Chances are he will keep it for a longer time. (hahaha shame this is so cute!)










Musical rakhi: If you don't mind investing a little more than regular threads, go for the ones which can play some music. The market offers some which play instrumental tunes, while some even play popular Hindi songs. (lol! this is quite cool hey! who knew you could be dancing away!)

Gold and silver rakhi: Looking at a long-term investment? Opt for a rakhi made with a gold or silver motif. Of course, it is priced much more than a regular one, but it's a good option to those planning to give their brothers something special for keeps.





Say it with Angry Birds: The latest entrants in the market are the Angry Birds rakhis which are selling like hot cakes. The funny faces will definitely bring a smile on your li'l brother's face. You can also go for the Pokemon, Sinchan, Ben 10 and Doremon rakhis. 



I would just like to wish my brother Jayant a very Happy Raksha Bhandhan. And to all the brothers and sisters may you also have a blessed Raksha Bhandhan

P.S Pics taken from external sites.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The King of the jungle

Papyrus pizazz- part 1

Nostalgic