August 7 is Rakshabandhan: Hindu Festival that Celebrates Brother-Sister Bond can be traced back to Indus Valley Civilization

August 7, 2017: Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year in India and across the globe. Brothers and sisters treat each other with unconventional surprises to show how important and special that bond is. This year the Hindu festival is celebrated on August 7 and if you have brothers or sisters at home, delicious treats and lovely gifts are inevitable.

Though the enthusiasm to celebrate the festival is at its peak, but only a handful of people are aware of the history behind celebrating this custom. This festival is quite old and can be connected to the ancient Indus Valley civilization. In fact, the tradition of Rakshabandhan was cast by those sisters who were not real.

THE MANTRA

Yen Baddho Bali Raja Danavendro Mahabalah|
Ten Tvaamabhibadhnaami Rakshe Maachal Maachal||

The meaning of Raksha Mantra is as following –
"I tie you with the same Raksha thread which tied the most powerful, the king of courage, the king of demons, Bali. O Raksha (Raksha Sutra), please don't move and keep fixed throughout the year."

THE HISTORY

If we browse through the pages of history, we will understand that the festival is 6,000 years old and there are lots of evidence which proves that.

The earliest evidence of the introduction of Raksha Bandhan is of the Queen Karnavati and Emperor Humayun. There was a struggle between Rajputs and Muslims in the medieval era, when the widowed Queen of the King of Chittor, Karnavati did not see any way to protect herself and her kingdom from Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, then she had sent Rakhi to Humayun and he protected her and gave her the status of a sister. There are lots of other stories of Lord krishṇa and Draupadi, Bali and Lord vishṇu in reference to this festival.

THE RITUAL

The sister ties a beautiful thread on the wrist of her brother's with the hope that he will protect her in every twist and turn of her life. But nowadays, our relationships, festivals, and rituals have also changed. Rather, that feeling of celebrating the festival is not the same anymore. Now many new threads have been added in the thread that is tied to the desire of 'Sister's protection'.