Festival Guides
A Beginner’s Guide to Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi)
Jun
What is Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan is a unique festival in the Hindu and Sikh communities, celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.
How is Raksha Bandhan celebrated?
On the day of the festival, a sister will meet with her brother and tie a thread, called a Rakhi, on his wrist. The brother in return promises to love and protect his sister. He usually gives his sister a gift or quite often cash (it can be lucrative to have many brothers at this time of year!). Many Indian extended families celebrate Raksha Bandhan between cousins too.
These days, it’s very common to give or send a card as well as the Rakhi, especially if it’s not practical to meet up on the day. All Davora cards have a Rakhi attached to the card.
What is the history of Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan is an ancient tradition, the origins of which are unclear; Hindu mythology refers to a battle between gods and demons, in which Indra (the king of Gods) received a thread charged with sacred verses for protection and had it tied on his hand. Through the strength of this thread, Indra conquered his enemies.
Other sources refer to the time when Alexander The Great invaded India around 326 B.C. Alexander’s wife tied a thread on the hand of King Puru who in return accepted her as his sister. When the opportunity came during the war, Puru refrained from eliminating Alexander.
“Raksha Bandhan” literally translates as “the knot of protection”.
What’s the difference between “Raksha Bandhan” and “Rakhi”?
Raksha Bhandan is the name of the festival. Rakhi is the name of the thread tied on the brother’s wrist. But you will often hear of the festival being called Rakhi too.
Here at Davora we sell both Rakhi cards and Rakhi threads – all our cards come with the Rakhi attached.
For all our cards, you have the option of adding a hand-written message to the inside of the card too!
If you’re looking for individual rakhi threads, then we’ve categorised them to make it easier for you to find the one that suits your brother’s style.
