RAKSHAABANDHAN

RAKSHAABANDHAN
The innate love of a sister for her brother is expressed in the festival. She ties a sacred thread (raakhee) on the wrist of her brother and thus ties the whole world with love. ‘Bahnaa ne bhai ki kalaee pe pyar bandha hai, pyar ki ik dore se sansar bandha hai.’ She wishes and prays God for her brother’s long life and all happiness. Brother vows her protection. She gives to eat him the best sweets and food he likes. She knows his likes, dislikes, and makes preparations accordingly. Brother gives money, clothes and ornaments. Brothers may change but sister’s love is constant for life long. After marriage, brother inclines towards his father-in-law’s side and love for sisters decreases. But sister’s love is unvarying.
“Jen baddho Bali Raajaa, daanvendro mahaabalah; Tan twan pratibadhnami, rakshemaachalmaachla.” ‘I am binding you the thread with which the giant’s king Bali was bound and it will protect you forever and make you immortal like king Bali.’ In Mithila and some other parts of northern India, elders and priests bind rakhees on younger’s wrists reciting the above mantras wishing their all round protection.
This raksha-sutra (protection thread) saved so many women’s modesty in the history. In the very presence of her five most powerful husbands and celebrated father-in-laws, Dusshaasan tried to make Dropadee naked before Dhritrashtra’s assembly. Krishna alone came to protect her and saved her humility. Once there was bleeding in Krishna’s finger in some war. Dropadee tore her clothes and bound it on his finger. This touched the heart of the most powerful and yogeeshwar (king of saints) Krishna. He started to treat her more than his own sister. Dropadee is also called Krishna (Krishn’s sister). He vowed to protect her always. As the return, she got unlimited saarees and Dusshaasan could not make her naked.
In Mithila region, the intrinsic love of the sisters has been picturized in Raakhee and Bhratridwiteeyaa (Bhai-Dooj; a festival of brother and sister) vividly. The sister is shown hankering after the love of brothers. She thinks herself the most week and poor. ‘Baba ke bakhaari dheeyaa ke upaas; ham doordeshanee ho bhaiyaa tikulbe ker ho aas.’ These lines show the wretched condition of the women in the society. How a daughter can be poor when her father is rich. The law provides equal share in parent’s property to all children irrespective of gender. Moreover, girls have proved themselves equally competent in all fields compared to boys. In some cases, they have better results than boys in so many prestigious examinations and doing all types of jobs. They are better in housekeeping, children taming, cooking, cleaning, marketing and maintaining the family. Therefore, songs should also change which can show economic equality and bilateral affection.-------On Raakhee festival, 13th Aug, 2011.-------------------------------NAMO RAMANAY.