Gujarati Rass Garba performed by Shivkinner Group fo Leicester UK for Pancholi Samaj at Roundhill Community College Leicester

 Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu religious  festival celebrated across India. Though it is not having the same importance of Diwali, it is also a well celebrated festival in India. As India is having countless number of festivals since it is made with a group of states with totally different culture and languages. Some Festivals confined only to the districts, where we can find the entire district population is involved in festival, where as neighbouring districts will be a just on lookers or visitors. Most of this festivals will be connected to the local temples located in that district.

The meaning of Raksha is protection and bandhan is bond. So the raksha bandhan means the protection bond. As the name suggest this festival marks a sacred thread tieing by woman on the wrist of her brother or on the wrist of a man whom she consider as brother or expects brotherly protection. Raksha bandhan 2008 falls on 16th of August 2008.

Raksha Bandhan Legends:
Just like most of the Hindu festival Raksha bandhan also have multiple stories related to its origin. Here is some

lord Indra’s Victory against demon king vritra:- As per Hindu religions Gods are not residing in Heaven. Gods are residing like their own places like Siva in Kilasam (In Himalaya), Vishnu in vaikuntam etc etc. were as in heaven devas are residing who are responsible for our Air, Rain, Health etc.And heaven is blessed with only happiness and blessings. They are supposed to be the cousins of Demons (one father and two mother), who are residing in Pathala (world under earth). As Heaven is blessed with lot of prosperity this demons used to conduct the wars to gain the control of heaven. Whenever any powerful Damon king emerges they will conduct the war against the Devas. Demons use various methods like praying and making  Lord Shiva, Lord brahma happy and  getting extra ordinary powers. In one of this war the then powerful demon king Vrita has defeated Indra the Deva king of heaven by using his extra natural powers. Upon seeing this the Indra’s Guru (Teacher) advised Indra’s wife to tie a sacred thread on the wrist of her husband, after praying to god and imposing the spiritual powers into the thread she achieved due to her daily praying . Indra has won the war afterward because of the power of this thread. Lord Krishna and Draupathi:- Lord Krishna Killed the Bad king Sishupala to save the sages and Good people from his Cruel rule. But on this war Krishna got wounded and left with a bleeding finger. By seeing this Draupathi the wife of pandavas torn a piece of cloth from her sari and tied around Lord Krishna’s wrist to stop the bleeding. Touched by her concern and love against him, lord Krishna declared himself bound by her sisterly love. He further promised that in future he will repay this debt in many fold. Many years later Pandavas were cheated by their Cousin kouravas in the game of dice and become the slaves of their own cousins. To shame pandavas and draupathi, kauravas tried to remove her sari (indian dress) in public, telling that slaves are not supposed to wear sarees. Ashamed and helpless draupathi prayed to lord krishna to protect her from this shameful situation. Lord Krishna helped her by divinely elongating her sari endlessly. Thus lord Krishna repaid the piece of the Saree in many fold. King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi:-  Damon King bali (known as Mahabali or maveli) was one of the greatest disciple of Lord Vishnu. Due to this lord Vishnu left his normal place vaikundam and stayed with king Bali to protect his Kingdom. Because of this Goddess Lakshmi became very sad as she wanted lord Vishnu in vaikundam to protect whole universe. She took a Brahman woman’s form and taken shelter in king Bali’s palace. On the full moon day of sravana month she tied a sacred thread on the kings hand. The king asked her who she is and why she tied this thread. She revealed who she is and why she is here. Touched by vishnu’s and her affection and love towards him he requested Vishnu to go with her to vaikundam and sacrificed his kingdom. From that day onwards it has become a tradition to tie a thread on brother’s hand by sisters. Yama and Yamuna:-Yamuna the sister of Yama (The deva of death) has tied and sacred thread on his wrist and attained  immortality. Touched by this Lord Yama declared that whoever gets this sacred thread tied on his wrist by their sister will be blessed by him.

Raksha bandhan Celebration:
 All over India special poojas and worships will be held for raksha bandhan. The women’s will be tieing sacred thread on their brother’s hands and on the hands of the men whom she considers as brother or expects brotherly love and protection.

Rakhi greetings:
 Best rakhi greeting is a raksha bandhan itself. Send a raksha bandhan to the people whom you want to wish on this occation. However there are colourful greetings are available to wish somebody in style. Lot of online greeting card sites also providing rakshabandahcards now a days.
365greetings.com:- Lot of Raksha bandhan cards with flash animation is available with them.

Her Majesty’s message this year focuses on environmental issues. To find out more about The Queen and the Commonwealth, visit: www.royal.gov.uk

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