Rakhi Ki Thaal
Raksha Bandhan- Rakhi
Rakhi-(raksha bandhan) – special brother festival is on the 02 August 2012
Rakhi is an silent promise that the brother pledges towards the protection and complete welfare of his sister. Indian as country and culture is wedded to the idea of a joint family system wherein even if the sister is married off, she is well taken care of by her parents and thereon her brother and bhabhi(sister-in-law) in the form of a Lumba/lumbi after the parents are no more.
Bhaiyya-Bhabhi-Rakhi- Lumba
So each year the sister ties a sacred thread across the brothers right wrist reminding him that she exists even though she is married and moved on to a new home. He in turn showers her with gifts, money, jewelery and she in turn prays for his welfare and well being.
Through the passage of time, festivals are undergoing many changes. Today’s rakhi is also known as Raksha Bandhan meaning the bond of protection. Rakhi is the most sacred festival for sisters and brothers.
During the middle ages, if a woman tied a rakhi thread on the wrist of any man, then it became essential for him, as his religious duty to honor and protect that woman at all times.
Every year on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Shravana this holy event is celebrated. As per
Child Rakhi-Cartoon character Rakhi
the Gregorian calender, the festival takes place on the month of July-August. Rakhi in 2012 will be celebrated on 02nd August. Now that you know when is rakhi in 2012, we can focus on the festival of Raksha Bandhan in general and also on the different gifts that can be sent on this festival. Nowadays children or kids rakhi are also available in their favorite cartoon series to attract them.
Even when the day of rakhi is over in India, the new dawn in the US still has the fresh essence of this sacrosanct festival. So end of the day in this part of the world never restricts one from sending rakhi to USA and celebrate it with full gusto. A large number of online sites will definitely come handy in making this wish come true. It is this beautiful thread of protection that ties a brother and a sister in tandem even if they are settled much apart from each other. Send your unblemished affections of the day to your dearest sibling and let them feel the touch of your love and care. So start your preparations right now, and make rakhi 2012 a festival to be cherished for an elongated period of time.
In Mumbai, rakhi festival is called “Nariali Poornima” or coconut full moon and in Kerala and TamilNadu the occasion is termed as “Avani Avittam”. Every region has their own names and ways for enjoying the occasion but the real spirit of the day enliven in every part, which swabs the true color in the mirage of the India.
How to decorate your Rakhi ki Thaal- the tray that carries your Rakhi
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year on ‘Shravan Purnima‘ (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), which generally falls in the month of August. On the auspicious day of Rakhi, sisters wake up in the morning, take bath, offer prayers to the Almighty and visit their brothers to perform the rituals of Rakhi. The ritual of Raksha Bandhan essentially includes tying of sacred thread (which is called ‘Rakhi’ or ‘Raksha Sutra’) by the sisters, on their brothers’ wrist. Before tying Rakhi, the sisters would perform an aarti, apply tilak (by mixing rice grains and roli) on their brother’s forehead and then offer them sweetmeat.
So essentially the thaal should have the following:
- A well decorated Thali- stainless steel, mixed alloy, brass or a decorative tray will also do.
Rakhi thali decoration
- Two small containers- one for water and the other raw uncooked white rice.
- Rakhi and Lumba
- 01 diya or small ghee lamp
- Matches to light the ghee diya
- Fresh broken flowers
- Roli thread bundle
- Agarbatti/incense stick- preferably small
- Sweets – mithai
In the heart of the thali, paint a Swastika, which is a symbol of Lord Ganesha. Buy three small size containers, one for rice and water, second for placing roli and the third for keeping a diya and an incense stick stand. Pick up a nice beaded rakhi that can further enhance the charm of your thali. Border your Rakhi thali using fresh flowers. If you want to place the sweets in the thali itself, then you can either keep them on the corner side or take a separate container and your rakhi thali is ready.
According to the Indian tradition, the family members get ready for the rituals early in the morning. They take a bath to purify mind and body before starting any preparations. After offering the rituals to the deities of the family, the sister perform aarti of their brothers and ties Rakhi on their wrist. Then, they put kumkum powder on the forehead of their brother and offer sweets. All these rituals take place amid the chanting of the following mantras :
“Suraj shakhan chhodian, Mooli chhodia beej
Behen ne rakhi bandhi / Bhai tu chir jug jee”,
Which means “The sun radiates its sunlight, the radish spreads its seeds,
I tie the rakhi to you O brother and wish that may you live long.”
After her prayer for a long life for her brother, she says that she is tie the ever-protective Raksha to her brother’s wrist and chants:
“Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah
tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala”
This means,” I tie you the rakhi that was tied to king Bali, the king of Demons,
O Rakhi I pray that you never falter in protecting your devotee.
In return, brothers pampers and blesses the sisters and promises to protect her from all the evils of this world.
Order your rakhis here:
Carat Lane.com: Rakhi for Your Brother – Select from Our 24K Gold Rakhis
Yebhi.com: www.yebhi.com
Rakhisonline.com: Send Rakhi Online | RakhisOnline.com
Send Rakhi to your brother in India: www.sendrakhigiftstoindia.com
Indiagift Portals: www.rakhi.indiangiftsportal.com/when-is-rakhi.html
Rakhi gifts: www.rakhi-gifts.com
