Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival which celebrates the brother-sister bond of mutual love, care and protection. It is celebrated in the Savan month and marks the arrival of monsoon, usually corresponding with the Gregorian month of August. Traditionally, sister/s ties a “raksha” on the wrist of their brother/s as a token of their love and affection. Brothers on the other hand vow to protect their sisters under any circumstances. After the rituals are over, brother gives gifts to his sister/s to return the gesture. In some communities there is a tradition of brother going to the house of the in-laws of his sister, in case she is married, and escorting her back to her parent’s house to celebrate Raksha Bandhan. The festival of Raksha Bandhan lacks the pomp and show like other Hindu festivals, but, it is a major family event and celebrated with zeal, though privately.
Long and Short Essay on Raksha Bandhan in English
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Raksha Bandhan Essay 1 (200 words)
Raksha Bandhan is one of the main festivals in Hindu religion. Although it is celebrated across India, it holds special reference for those belonging to the northern and western parts of the country.
The priests in the country announce special time for tying rakhi on the day of Raksha Bandhan. It is time for the ladies to adorn beautiful attires and get ready for the occasion. They are mostly seen wearing ethnic ensembles with matching accessories and footwear. Men are also seen donning traditional Indian attire. The atmosphere is filled with love and joy. The ritual begins with sisters applying tilak on their brothers’ forehead. They then tie rakhi on their brothers’ wrist and exchange sweets. Sisters wish for the well being of their brothers as they carry out the ritual. Brothers give gifts to their sisters and promise to take care of them in every situation. It is not only a special day for brothers and sisters but is also a great occasion to bond with other family members.
The advancement in technology has also helped in bringing the loved ones together on this day. The siblings living in distant lands can connect with each other via video call. Those who are unable to visit each other on rakhi celebrate the festival by seeing each other virtually on phone or laptop these days.
Raksha Bandhan Essay 2 (300 words)
Introduction
Raksha Bandhan is one of the main Hindu festivals. The festival is celebrated with great zeal in various parts of the country. It is known to strengthen the brother-sister bond. It is celebrated by brothers and sisters of all age.
When is Raksha Bandhan Celebrated?
As per the Hindu calendar, Raksha Bandhan falls in Shravan maas also known as the Sawan month. It is celebrated on the last day of the Shravan mass which mostly falls in the month of August. The entire month of Sawan is considered to be auspicious as per the Hindu religion.
How is Raksha Bandhan Celebrated?
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated during the day time. Brothers and sisters adorn beautiful attires to celebrate this pious day. The sisters apply tilak on the brothers’ forehead, tie the rakhi on their wrist and exchange sweets. While carrying out this ritual the sisters pray for the well being of their brothers. The brothers give gifts to their sisters and pledge that they will stand by them and take care of them in every situation. Both brothers and sisters observe fast before tying the rakhi. They eat only after the ritual is carried out.
The ritual is mostly followed by a family brunch. Raksha Bandhan is thus no longer just a day to celebrate the brother-sister bond but also a good occasion to bond with other family members. It is not just celebrated among real brothers and sisters but also among cousins. People mostly gather at their ancestral house where all the cousins and their families can gather and celebrate the day. In today’s busy life when people find it hard to meet their near and dear ones, occasions such as these offer a good chance to bond with them.
Conclusion
Women are especially quite excited about Raksha Bandhan as it is time for them to shop and adorn beautiful dresses and accessories. Men, on the other hand, look forward to meet their sisters and cousins. It is indeed one of the best Hindu festivals.
Raksha Bandhan Essay 3 (400 words)
Introduction
Raksha Bandhan, one of the main Hindu festivals, is celebrated to strengthen the brother sister bond. On this day, the sisters tie a sacred thread, rakhi on their brothers’ wrist wishing good health and long life for them. The bothers, on the other hand, bless their sisters and pledge to take care of them all through their lives.
Symbol of Brother-Sister Love
The brother-sister relationship is extremely special. The way they care for each other is beyond compare. One can never love or care for their friends as much as they love their siblings. The connection and bond one shares with brothers and sisters is simply matchless. No matter how much they fight with each other over trivial things when the time comes they stand by one another and extend their support.
The bond grows stronger as they age and go through various stages of life. They are there for each other in thick and thin. Elder brothers are highly protective of their sisters and the younger ones look up to their elder sisters for guidance. Likewise, elder sisters are extremely caring for their younger brothers and the younger ones seek their elder brother’s help and advice on various matters. A day to celebrate this beautiful bond has thus rightly been established. Raksha Bandhan is special for every brother and sister in the country. It is a symbol of their love, togetherness and faith in each other.
Raksha Bandhan – A Time for Pampering
Raksha Bandhan is a time for the ladies to pamper themselves. They also receive a lot of love and pampering from their brothers. Since it is time for family gatherings the ladies especially want to look their best. Ethnic clothing is preferred by most as it adds to the fervour of the Hindu festivals. The markets are filled with beautiful kurtis, suits and other ethic wear. Women are seen hoping from shop to shop to buy a piece that matches their taste. They also go on to purchase matching accessories and footwear.
On the day of the festival, girls take a good amount of time dressing up. Besides the dress and accessories, they also go for special hair-dos to look different on this day. Their brothers also pamper them by showering their love and blessings and also by giving gifts.
Conclusion
Raksha Bandhan is known by different names in different parts of the country however the essence of the festival remains the same and that is to celebrate the sacred brother-sister bond.
Raksha Bandhan Essay 4 (500 words)
Introduction
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in many parts of India as well as its adjoining countries such as Nepal and Pakistan. It is a festival that symbolizes unity and strength and rejoices the power of familial ties. This one day is particularly dedicated to celebrate the brother sister relationship which is one of the most special relationships in the world. The festival is being celebrated since ancient times.
Raksha Bandhan: Historical References
Several folklores have been presented on how this festival came into being and the significance it held for various famous personalities. Here are some of the historical references of the festival:
- Alexander the Great
It is said that when Alexamder invaded India, his wife was extremely anxious about his well-being. She sent a sacred thread to Porus, requesting him not to harm Alexander. Keeping with the tradition, Porus refrained from attacking Alexander during the battle. He respected the Rakhi sent by Roxana. This event dates back 326 BCE.
- Rani Karnavati
The legend of Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun also emphasises the significance of this sacred ritual. It is said that Rani Karnavati of Chittor, who was a widowed queen, asked for Emperor Humayun’s help by sending him Rakhi. She did so when she realised that she could not save her kingdom from Bahadur Shah all by herself. Humayun respected the rakhi and sent his troops to fight against all odds and save Chittor.
Choosing the Right Gift for Raksha Bandhan
The market is flooded with a variety of gifts around this time. From clothes to footwear to accessories to home décor items– there is so much variety in each of these that it becomes difficult to pick one among these. The brothers often seem confused on what to gift to their sisters as it is a difficult choice to make. They often roam around the market looking for that perfect gift for their sisters to light a smile on their face. Choosing the right gift is indeed a big task during this festival.
So it is not just the ladies who visit the market and shop endlessly during the time men also invest a good amount of time looking for gifts for their beloved sisters.
Another Festival That Celebrates Brother Sister Bond
Just like Raksha Bandhan, Bhai Duj is another festival that is celebrated to strengthen and rejoice the brother sister bond. The sisters apply tilak on their brothers’ forehead on this day and pray for their well being. The brothers pledge to be by their sisters’ side at all times. They exchange sweets and the brothers present their sisters with gifts. People dress up in ethnic wear to add to the spirit of the festival. It is not just a time to bond with ones brothers and sisters but also with other family members.
Conclusion
Raksha Bandhan holds a special significance for brothers and sisters. It is not just celebrated by the common man but was also celebrated by the Gods and Goddesses to rejoice the pious bond between brothers and sisters.
Raksha Bandhan Essay 5 (600 words)
Introduction
Raksha Bandhan, the festival that celebrates the pious brother sister bond, falls during the auspicious month of Saavan. On this day, the sisters tie a sacred thread on their brothers’ wrist wishing good health and fortune for their brothers. The brothers, on the other hand, bless their sisters and promise to take care of them. It is being celebrated with immense enthusiasm since the ancient times.
Mythological References – Raksha Bandhan
The festival of Raksha Bandhan finds mention in a number of mythological stories. This means that it is being celebrated since the ancient times. The ancient stories related to the festival also point out that it was not just celebrated between real brothers and sisters or cousins. Here are some mythological references of this pious festival:
- The Legend of Indra Dev
As per the ancient Hindu book, Bhavishya Purana, once when the Gods fought with demons, Indra, the Lord of rain and sky, suffered at the hands of the demon King Bali. Unable to see Indra in such a condition, Sachi, his wife shared the concern with Vishnu. Vishnu gave her a sacred thread and asked her to tie it around Indra’s wrist. Sachi tied the thread wishing long life and success for her husband. Following this, Indra miraculously defeated Bali. The festival of Raksha Bandhan is said to be inspired from this story. Rakhi is considered to be a protective thread. During the earlier times, this sacred thread was even tied to the kings and warriors by their sisters or wives to protect them during the war.
- Goddess Lakshmi Tied the Sacred Thread to King Bali
It is said that when demon King Bali won the three worlds from Vishnu, he later asked him to stay with him at his place. Vishnu agreed to him however Vishnu’s wife, Goddess Lakshmi did not like his decision. She thus decided to tie rakhi to Bali. When Bali asked her for a gift in return she asked him to send her husband back to Vaikunth. Bali could not say no to his sister. Such is the power of this sacred thread.
- The Sacred Bond of Krishna and Draupadi
It is said that while killing Shishupala, Lord Krishna accidently got his finger hurt. As his finger began bleeding, Draupadi rushed to him, tore a piece from her sari and tied it around Krishna’s finger. Krishna was touched by this gesture and promised to protect Draupadi. Thereafter, Draupadi tied a sacred thread to Krishna every year. When Draupadi was in utmost distress during Cheerharan by the Kauravas, it was Lord Krishna who saved her. The two shared a very special bond.
- Rabindra Nath Tagore’s Idea of Raksha Bandhan
Renowned Indian writer, Rabindra Nath Tagore believed that Raksha Bandhan was a day to strengthen the bond of togetherness not just among brothers and sisters but among all countrymen. The famous writer was devastated at hearing about the partition of Bengal. The British government used the tactic of divide and rule to split this province. The Hindu Muslim conflict formed the basis of this division. It was around this time that Rabindra Nath arranged for Raksha Bandhan celebration to bring Hindus and Muslims closer. He requested people of both these religions to tie the sacred thread of protection to each other to strengthen their bond.
In West Bengal, people still tie rakhi to their friends and neighbours to promote the feelings of oneness and unity.
Conclusion
Rakhi holds special significance for siblings. Many of them are unable to meet each other due to their professional and personal commitments. However, they make it a point to take out time for one another on this special day.
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