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it is rakhee poornima

Posted by littleindian on August 28, 2007. |


Rakhee
       the August ‘poornima’ (full moon)

Rakhee Poornima

A day celebrated in India as Rakhsha Bandhan
the ‘bond of protection’ (rakhsha – protection; bandhan – a tie or a bond)

A sister ties a ‘rakhee’, a holy thread, on the wrist of her brother
symbolising a request for his protection, by accepting which he promises.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a brother by birth for by tying a rakhee
any male can be “adopted” as a brother regardless of race or religion.
And it doesn’t have to be anything expensive, anything ornate
just a simple string can create a bond equally strong.

The origin of the tradition is lost in mythology.
But our history records many incidents,

it is said…

Queen Karnawati of Chittor
the widow of a hindu king was losing battle
to stop an invasion of the Sultan Bahadur Shah.

She sent a rakhee to the muslim Emperor Humayun.
The Emperor was touched by the gesture, accepted the rakhee
and immediately set off with his vast army to protect the Queen.

Rakhee poornima, a day for all sisters and brothers everywhere.

I don’t have a sister, 🙁 I never received a rakhee, never ever.

 

[Update: to say, I just realised, this was my 100th post. 🙂 ]

 

 

 

 

Posted by littleindian on . |

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Posted in History, India, Life


15 Responses to “it is rakhee poornima”


  1. bachodi said this on August 28th, 2007 at 12:40

    Same here, I never received a rakhee, never ever.

  2. bachodi said this on August 28th, 2007 at 12:42

    There must be an interesting story on Rakhee. alexander’s wife tieing Rakhee to Porus, do you remember anything like that ?

  3. little indian said this on August 28th, 2007 at 12:55

    thanks bachodi,

    I remember in school some boys came with their wrists resembling a shrubbery.
    I would just admire and envy.
    Gradually it became,
    rakhee? Oh yeah, means nothing to me – kind of a thing.

    Now you mention it,
    I vaguely remember having read about Alexander’s wife, but nothing in details. My homework for today.

  4. Ramesh Natarajan said this on August 28th, 2007 at 13:42

    Happy Raksha Bandhan

    You can read about the History of Raksha bandhan in the Wikipedia site.

    Regards,
    Ramesh Natarajan
    Global Indian

  5. little indian said this on August 28th, 2007 at 14:03

    @ Ramesh Natarajan,
    Happy Raksha Bandhan to you too.

    I will look it up,
    Bachodi has set me a small hometask. 🙂

    Thanks for stopping by.

  6. vegfood said this on August 28th, 2007 at 17:08

    Happy Raksha Bandhan to you. And congrats on your 100th Blog

  7. little indian said this on August 28th, 2007 at 18:07

    Thanks vegfood,
    happy raksha bandhan to you too.

  8. ClapSo said this on August 28th, 2007 at 19:39

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful cultural tradition and congrats on your 100th post!

    The scientifically impossible I do right away
    The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer

  9. little indian said this on August 29th, 2007 at 16:41

    Thanks clapso.

    There is another day in our calendar,
    when the sister put a mark (Tilak)on their brother(s) forehead,
    praying for his/their long life.

    Not having a sister, don’t know by how much, my life gets shortened. 🙂
    At least I managed to get my century of posts.

  10. bendtherulz said this on August 31st, 2007 at 12:24

    Congrats on your 100th post !! Cheers to many more.

    Rakhee – even I never ever got one – 🙂

  11. little indian said this on August 31st, 2007 at 12:33

    Hi, rulzbender,

    join the club of the rakhee-depriveds of the world.

    I thought you were tip-toeing amongst the alpines.
    How was the trek?

  12. bendtherulz said this on August 31st, 2007 at 14:42

    Trek was awesome…started with some hitch….am back for now a week…joined office ( Duh…boring)…and these days running around for the preparation of next trip….( official) Hope to post someting before I leave….!

    VOF – was just like entering the heaven – I so much wanted to just stay there…darn -they do not allow people once sun goes down!!

  13. little indian said this on August 31st, 2007 at 14:47

    Off again in a week and its boring!!
    Some people are never satisfied. 🙄

    Where are you off to next?
    When are you going to write a blog on this trip?

  14. sanjay said this on September 6th, 2007 at 11:10

    can anybody tell me 1980 on which day rakhabandan was …

  15. little indian said this on September 6th, 2007 at 17:59

    thanks sanjay for stopping by,

    Unfortunately I can’t.
    You need to find when the full moon was in August that year.
    I have been trying to find the link to a website I once knew, that keeps a record.
    I am sure if you Google it you’ll find it.