Rakhi Pournima /Raksha Bandhan --- Strengthening the Sacred bond of Brother & Sister!!

Raksha Bandhan - Celebrating the sacred bond of brother and sister

Happy Rakhi Pournima /Raksha Bandhan Wishes to all of you lovely brothers and Sisters in the World.May God bless all brothers and sisters in every aspect of Sucess.The  following image was taken by me ,the sacred threads are done by me using a small beads and attaching the "alphabet" bead in the center indicating my brother's names.Done this with full of Love and affection and sharing .I thanks a lot for the Service providers for sharing.

Raksha Bandhan, popularly known as rakhi, is a festival observed to pay homage to the sacred and unconditional bond between brothers and sisters. It's an ancient Vedic festival which is celebrated every year on the full moon day of the month of Shravan (August). Raksha Bandhan 2013 will be celebrated with zest and vigour on August 21. 

On this festival, as a ritual, a sister ties a colourful rakhi, a sacred thread that symbolizes love between siblings, around her brother's wrist. The festival starts by performing traditional aarti and concludes with prayers. Moreover, as a part of tradition, a brother presents his sister varied exciting gifts and vows to guide and protect her throughout the life. Gifts play a prominent role and symbolizes tokens of love and affection. 

The festivity of Raksha Bandhan has religious fervour and can be traced in the Indian mythology and history. Interesting instances pertaining to the celebration of Raksha Bandhan can also be found in ancient manuscripts. The celebration of this festival is all about paying reverence to emotions and the sentiments attached between siblings. 

Raksha Bandhan is a festival of fervour and its festivity can be witnessed in other communities as well besides in Hindu and Sikh communities. Special events with fun-filled activities and bazaars are organised to observe the day. Markets and shops on the occasion are embellished with colourful and captivating designs of rakhis, gifts, sweets to celebrate the occasion. Rush of people to the shops are seen ahead of the celebration trying to find the best gifts and rakhis. 

Raksha Bandhan is the perfect time to show your love and affection towards your siblings and strengthen the bond.

Raksha Bandhan is a festival of fervour and its festivity can be witnessed in other communities as well besides in Hindu and Sikh communities. Special events with fun-filled activities and bazaars are organised to observe the day. Markets and shops on the occasion are embellished with colourful and captivating designs of rakhis, gifts, sweets to celebrate the occasion. Rush of people to the shops are seen ahead of the celebration trying to find the best gifts and rakhis. 

Rakhis are available in captivating design forms that include teddy bear, flowers, dolls and cartoon characters etc .

Online stores also display a striking collection of delightful rakhi gifts at attractive prices for the festival. Most online or virtual stores offer an extensive range of colourful rakhi gifts with the option to send rakhi to India or anywhere around the world ensuring prompt dispatch. 

Another popular way of sending rakhi wishes is by sending and sharing animated and fascinating rakhi e-cards available online. 

However, many think that traditional rakhi gifts are passé and people are opting for new gift ideas to amuse their loved ones. They seek for innovative gift ideas that are thrilling and sure to last lifetime. 

Sending lovely and inspiring rakhi SMS is also a wonderful and popular way to celebrate the occasion and capture the moments. Numerous collection of rakhi SMSes are easily available online that are best to convey love and affection on the special day. 

Banking on the popularity of sending rakhi SMSes, many service providers offer customized, graphic and a variety of rakhi SMS options to their customers to celebrate raksha bandhan. Moreover, the availability of sending a rakhi SMS in the language of one's choice has amplified its popularity. 

Raksha bandhanam is the one that ladies ties around the wrist of their brothers so that they have to live happily. Normally during the sravana month we are having many festivals for ladies especially, sampad gowri vrata to be performed by newly married ladies for first 5 or seven years, sravana sukra vara puja, varalakshmi vratam for their husbands, nagula chaviti for the welfare of children, garuda panchami and raksha bandhanam for the welfare of their brothers, maha sankata hara chaturthi for the welfare of family.

Rakshana bandhanam is to be performed on the evening of Sravana Pournami day (the day on which pournami ghadiyas are during the evening) every year by the ladies seeking welfare of their brotherhood. To tie the thread we have to use only thread soaked in turmeric and not the colour threads as well as the designs as of doing now by present day generations.This is available in vamana purana.

After conquering the entire property from Maha bali, lord vaman stayed along with bali in patala loka to safeguard his properties acquired. Mahalakshmi patiently waiting for mahavishnu to return but he has not done so. She was worried and there is no other way except to approach maha bali to request to spare her husband. So she approached mahabali in patala loka as a normal woman without showing her identity and tied a thread soaked in turmeric by reciting the following sloka:

YENA BADHO BALI RAAJA DANAVENDRO MAHA BALAHATENA !

TWAAMAPI BADHNAAMI RAKSHE MAA CHALA MAA CHALA !!

Maha bali very much pleased and wanted to present the lady then she came into her own existance and asked to mahabali to spare vamanamurthy who is safeguarding his properties. Accordingly mahabali prayed to vamana murthy and requested to accompany with mahalakshmi and presented with many gifts to her.From that day onwards it is become a customary to tie the sacred thread soaked in turmeric into their brothers right hand on sravana pournami day between 04.00 and 07.00pm in sukra budha and chandra hora time duly praying the almighty to safeguard their brothern with good health and progeny. The male counterparts in return has to give some presents to their sisters to please them.