Raksha Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the love, bond, and duty between brothers and sisters. The word Raksha means Protection and Bandhan means Knot, basically Raksha Bandhan means the Knot of protection. The festival is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month Shravan. On the day, sister ties rakhi on her brother’s wrist and pray for his happiness and prosperity. The brother in return gives her a gift and a promise to protect her. Raksha Bandhan literally translates into 'the bond of protection'.

History: It is believed that before the epic battle of Mahabharata, Draupadi tied a rakhi on Krishna's hand when he hurt his finger while setting off his sudarshan chakra against evil king Shishupala who had insulted the Lord over hundred times. As Krishna's slashed finger bled, Draupadi tore a piece from her sari and tied it around Krishna's hand. Krishna in return vowed to protect Draupadi against all adversities in future.

According to Bhavishya Purana, during the war between gods and demons, Lord Indra, the deity of the sky, rains and thunderbolts, defeated demon king Bali after his wife Sachi tied a thread around his wrist. The holy thread was blessed with prayers and was given to Sachi by Lord Vishnu. Since then the power of sacred thread became popular and women started tying it on men’s wrist to protect them from the evil spirit.

“phulon ka taaron ka sabka kehna hai
ek hazaron mein meri behna hai...”