Rakhi Festival: The History and Meaning of Raksha Bandhan + 8 Fantastic Rakhi Gifts, DIY Rakhis and Lots More

Rakhi is the festival that captures the rich cultural spirit and heritage of India. Various parts of the country celebrates this festival with much enthusiasm. Over the time period the mode and way to celebrate this festival has changed but the purpose and inner meaning of the festival has remained same. This festival is celebrated to uphold and keep peace and harmony across the country.

Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan is an annual festival and is celebrated by many Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. It is observed on the day of the Hindu Lunar Calendar month of ‘Shraavana’ which typically falls in August. On this day the sisters of all ages tie a talisman or amulet called rakhi around the wrist of their brothers and gifts are exchanged with sweets and chocolates which bring immense happiness to the relationship.

Raksha bandhan is a festival of unconditional love between a brother and a sister. It means the ‘bond of protection’ between people.

Every festival in India has its own significance and Rakhi is celebrated with a significance to strengthen the brother-sister bond, by tying Rakhi, on the wrist. The festival has many customs related to it in various parts of the country. You can visit during this time to the stated places to witness the grand celebration of the ritual.

Maharashtra, as a coastal state, celebrates ‘Narali Purnima’ along with Raksha Bandhan on the full moon day of Shraavan. The devotees offer coconut to the sea, showing respect to Lord Varun, which is observed by the Koli community of the state. It is also a special day for the fisher folks as it marked as the beginning of the fishing season. They offer coconut to the sea and distribute it as ‘prasad’ among family and friends.

Rajasthan celebrates ‘Lumba Rakhi’ which is the custom of tying Rakhi on the bangle of the brother’s wife, along with the brother, by the sisters among the Marwari and Rajasthani Community. Since the wife is known as ‘ardhangini’ or ‘better half’ Raksha Bbandhan festival is incomplete without her.

In the Gujarati community the festival is also called ‘Pavitropana’ which is a custom where people offer water to Lord Shiva and believes all their sins will be forgiven on this day. This day falls on Purnima during the month of Shravana, and on the eve of Shravana Purnima a special ceremony is performed. A mixture of five cow products is made (called Panchagaivya), a cotton thread dipped into it and tied around a shivalinga to cleanse the person from past sins.

People in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar celebrates ‘Kajari Purnima’ which is an important festival for the farmers as this day marks as the new beginning of the agricultural season.

In West Bengal the occasion is known as ‘Jhulan Purnima’, which is the last day of five-day long ritual where Lord Radha and Krishna swing on the ‘jhula’. The swing is decorated with flowers and the Iscon temple at Mayapur had a grand celebration during this time.

People of Kumaon celebrate Raksha Bandhan and Janopunyu on this day, which is also known as Shravani Purnima as it falls on a full moon in the month of Shravan. On that day, when people change their Janeu (sacred thread), usually worn by Brahmins of the community.

On the Raksha Bandhan day, people in Odisha also celebrate the day as Gamha Purnima, when domesticated cows and bullock are decorated and worshiped as God. Some sweet dishes are made from rice paste and coconut filling called ‘Pitha’ and distributed to family and friends.

The festival is just for a day, but the preparation start from a few weeks before the actual day. Shopping of colourful Rakhis, buying sweets and chocolates ahead of time, preparing the thali and getting gifts for the siblings is just few important parts of the festival.

The sister takes an early bath and get ready by wearing new clothes. After that she comes to her brother with the decorated ‘thali’ and performs the ‘aarti’. Then comes the best part of tying the beautiful holy thread on the wrist of her brother’s right hand. The ‘tilak’ is made on the brother’s forehead with ‘kumkum. ‘Rice grain and grasses are dispersed on his head and money is moved around his head and given to the poor. This ritual is considered to safeguard him from the evil eye.

Then he is offered with sweets as a token of happiness. Gifts are exchanged between siblings and the day is celebrated with fun and excitement.

This dart board has a powerful magnet to hold darts in place, eliminating the dangers with eliminating the dangers associated with sharp claws. It has a 17 inch dart board plus 6 colourful darts. It has a simple to install key-hole slot on the back of the board that makes the hanging part much easier. This dart board is safe for the children aging from 6 and up and thus suitable for both children and adult. The siblings of almost all ages will enjoy this indoor activity to the fullest. It is priced at Rs.1,239 on Amazon.

You can add a burst of fun into any festive party or family night with the hilarious game that ties the partners up in knots. This game features a large mat with two times the number of spots. The classic twister game play has 2 special games which makes it more outrageous and fun. You can chose to play spot elimination to lose the row and make the game more challenging. You can also choose Spinner’s choice, where the spinner chooses the next move. Play the way you like as the last player standing, wins. The price is Rs.470 on Amazon. Shipping costs may be extra.

An amazing gift for Rakhi, which can be enjoyed by both siblings in their spare time together. This projector comes with a lens fitted, the lens is made out of durable material and helps in uninterrupted projection. It has a brightness of 1800 lumen that provides a sharp and clear content projection for a great viewing experience. The projector comes with built in stereo speakers which eliminates the hassle of external audio connectivity and they provide excellent sound too. The range of the projector is 40 to135 inch and it ensures a cinema-like experience for the siblings on the go. It is priced at Rs.6,000 on Amazon.

The Inovera Stainless Steel Camera Lens Coffee Mug with Cookie Holder is a great gift which will keep the beverages warm and the cap can be used as a cookie holder. It has a lens like feeling and a perfect gift for all the photo and camera loving brothers. It comes in a very affordable price of Rs.499. Buy it from amazon.in.

A creative phone stand can add a fun element to an otherwise mundane day and is a cute decor item for an office desk or bedside table. Get your brother or sister this Astronaut Mobile Stand. This stand can be used to place your phone or tab in both vertical and horizontal direction for your table top. It is priced at Rs.1,099 on Big Small.

The Sweet Basket contains the complete set of 2 beaded rakhi, 1 stone studded beaded designer rakhi, beautiful assorted chocolates and roli chawal with attractive container. This is a handy gift for the Rakhi occasion. This will cost you Rs.1,299 on Rakhi Bazaar.

Enjoy the sweet fragrance of flower with a stream of gentle music playing from his gift. It is washable and great for indoor or outdoor use. It has a night lamp function and has Bluetooth facility to stream music. It is priced at Rs.999 on cracko.in.

If you are really confused to buy any gift or it is difficult to understand what he likes then the best option is of a gift card which he can use to buy the most wanted things for himself. The gift card comes in denominations of Rs.500, Rs.1,000, Rs.2,000, Rs.7,500, Rs.10,000 and you can also input your own price. Buy them on Amazon.

There is nothing like making something from scratch and gift it to your sibling during the Rakhi Festival. For that you will need to spend a little time in arranging the raw materials and make a DIY project for your beloved brother. These are simple, easy but full of love and affection that can make the special Rakhi day a perfect occasion to celebrate.

The gift is the essential part of Rakhi as it brings the inner joy and happiness among the siblings along with the feeling of love. It completes the festival and a surprise gift makes the day of the sister, who actually makes a great effort on this special day.

This handmade classic Rakhi can be made at home without much materials to buy. You can simply collect the things lying around and make this authentic Rakhi for the celebration.

Rakhi festival is the symbol of love and duty with an ardent prayer of prosperity for long life. Of course the traditional ways to celebrate Rakhi is important and every sister like to tie Rakhi on their brother’s hand and exchange gifts and sweets. But why not try out some other out-of-the-box activities that can give you immense happiness from within and deepen your relationship.

Bengal was at its peak in the National Movement in the 19th century and the symbolic bond of Rakhi is an inseparable image from this age. Post-Independence Rabindranath Tagore initiated ‘Rakhi Mahotsava’ in Shantiniketan which illuminates the idea of peaceful coexistence and universal brotherhood. Tagore’s role in bonding the relation between all human beings and not only the relation of a brother and a sister are unique and noticeable. We should always follow and remember the great intention behind the celebration, which is harmony in human relationships.

With the changing times, new generations have created a friendship day celebration with wrist band which is similar to Rakhi. Though the rituals are different, yet the inherent meaning of both are quite similar, to keep the bond of love and friendship stronger. There are various types of Rakhi friendship bands too which are used during these festivals – Feng Shui Rakhi, Bracelet Rakhi, multi coloured thread Rakhi and so on. Over the years the festival has evolved, it has changed into different forms and traditions, but it continues to uphold the sanctity of bonding, love and respect with prayer for long and healthy life.