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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know . i i i . – t ’ a l y n t k Rakshabandhan: It’s Practice And Historical Underpinnings D OES A RAKSHA TIED TO A WRIST PROTECT ? As Raksha Bandhan approaches, have you ever wondered if a brother’s affection is contingent upon this one single thread tied by the sisters? Perhaps not. The world has produced many loving brothers and still houses many caring brothers who do not wait for a blessed thread to give them the signal for further action. And yet, the day is very special, Rakhi or not. It is a reminder of the place where one came from, liter- ally. That, perhaps, becomes the closest bond of blood between siblings, with a recognition that a sibling may be one person whom one has known all one’s life, or theirs, making it the longest lasting bond, after the one with parents. Keeping that bond current and live be- comes important, then, and blessing it and protecting that bond is natural. That, is the logic behind it, if one ever doubts why a traditional ritual has to be followed. Beside the logic is the practical reason. This is one day to get rich. And so, one can tie Rakhis to not just real brothers, but to cousins, brother’s friends who are almost like brothers, neighbors, even co-workers. In fact, anyone who asks what the threads are on any brother’s wrists, can be offered one tied to their wrist for a special cost. Raksha Bandhan has survived from ancient times, for centuries, stealing away moments of pure goodwill and deep affection for the person standing across, and wish- ing no harm to come to them. The bargaining began much later. If a Rakhi was tied, the man (usually) was expected to uphold its worth, and protect the tie-r of it, with every effort, including with life. That is what the folk stories tell us, making one wonder if just tying a Rakhi can create a brother out of nowhere, or from the group around, capable of helping. The bargaining seems to be reinforced by Hindi films about sisters who asked brothers to uphold the sacred thread. Films began portraying such compelling obliga- tion stories of siblings around the mid twentieth cen- tury, predominantly referring to the obligation in films like Chhoti Bahen through its song ‘Bhaiya mere rakhi ke bandhan ko nibhana’. Later films picked up this theme and replayed it several times over in different versions. Regardless, Raksha Bandhan in the twentieth century became symbolic gesture of all the goodwill that a sister felt for the brother. The thread was just a reminder of that. But, was it how it really began during the Vedic times? Was there really a Rakhi that sisters tied then? It existed. A different version or versions of it. In an- cient times, Raksha or “protection” was a sacred thread or amulet tied by priests, wives, or mothers to protect someone from evil, sickness, or war. In the oldest Hindu traditions, the sacred thread was symbolic of protec- tion. Traditionally, royal priests or Gurus would tie these threads on kings and community members during the full moon of the Shravan month. This was done to bless them with health and safety for the upcoming year. Evolving over centuries, this tradition has maintained some of the basics. Today, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with sisters applying a tilak (vermilion and rice grains) on their brothers’ foreheads, tying the sacred rakhi thread on their wrists, and performing a aarti to pray for their long life and well-being. Brothers offer sweets, gifts, or tokens of love and promise to protect and sup- port their sisters. Families dress in traditional clothing, gather for festive meals, and share sweets like laddu or barfi. Modern celebrations have evolved significantly to become highly inclusive, moving beyond strictly tradi- tional blood-sibling relationships to celebrate bonds of protection, respect, and companionship. Many women now tie rakhis to their own sisters, female cousins, or close female friends to celebrate mu- tual support and lifelong trust. Brands even sell special- ized “Sister Squad” rakhis for this purpose. Originally a Marwari tradition, the custom of tying a Lumba rakhi to a sister-in-law (bhabhi) has gained popularity as a symbol of welcoming and protecting women within the family. Today, people frequently tie rakhis to trusted co- workers, classmates, and neighbors as a gesture of platonic camaraderie, safety, and mutual respect. It is increasingly common for people, including young chil- dren, to tie rakhis to societal protectors, such as society security guards, local police officers, or military person- nel, regardless of their gender. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: RAKSHA BANDHAN IN THE SCRIPTURES The modern festival of tying a Rakhi or Raksha on the wrists has its ancient roots. The Puranas mention the ritual of tying a protective thread or amulet. Bhavishya Purana includes a conversation where Krishna explains the history, significance, and rules of the protective thread or raksha to King Yudhishthira. It involves narrating the story of the gods losing a 12-year war against the demons, led by Indra, the king of the gods. On the advice of Brihaspati, the divine preceptor, Shachi, Indra’s wife, tied a consecrated amulet of thread, a raksha-sutra to Indra’s right wrist, fortified with sacred mantras. Empowered by this thread, Indra defeated the demons and recovered his kingdom. In the Bhagavata Purana, the specific, popular sister- brother ritual of Raksha Bandhan involving Goddess Lakshmi and King Bali is not explicitly mentioned in the original Sanskrit text (Canto 8). While the Bhagavata Purana text ends with Vishnu stationed as Bali’s eternal protector, folk tradition and other texts like the Bhavishya Purana and Vishnu Purana expand the story. Sage Narada advised Lakshmi to seek out King Bali on the full moon day of the Shravana month, Shravana Purnima. Lakshmi visited Bali and tied a protective cotton thread, Raksha Sutra, onto his right wrist, officially adopting him as her brother. Touched by this sacred gesture, Bali offered her any gift she desired. Lakshmi revealed her true identity and requested the release of her husband from his vow so He could return home. Bali happily complied, cement- ing the day as the origin point of the modern Raksha Bandhan festival. The Skanda Purana focuses on the structural, Vedic roots of Upakarma (changing the sacred thread) and Rishi Tarpanam, alongside protective worship (Vrata) dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. In the Prabhas Khanda and Nagarakhanda of the Skanda Purana, the full moon of Shravana is marked as Shravani. It explicitly instructs Brahmins and twice- born (Dvija) individuals to perform the cleansing ritual of changing their old sacred thread (Yajnopavita). The replacement thread is treated exactly like a Rak- sha Sutra (protective amulet). It is energized with Vedic mantras to protect the wearer’s body, mind, and intel- lect from evil or negative forces for the upcoming year. The Skanda Purana also has a story of Lord Shiva describing the Varalakshmi Vrata, which is celebrated around the same period in the month of Shravana. During this puja, women fast and tie a sacred, yellow- knotted thread called the Toradu or Raksha Sutra around their own wrists. The most famous epic narrative that mirrors the modern Raksha Bandhan is that of Krishna and Drau- padi in the Mahabharata. During the Rajasuya Yajna in Indraprastha, Krishna’s index finger was cut and began bleeding. Draupadi im- mediately tore a strip of silk from her expensive saree and wrapped it tightly around Krishna’s bleeding finger to stop the flow. Deeply moved by her spontaneous affection, Krishna declared the torn piece of cloth to be a sacred Raksha Sutra and vowed to repay the debt of every single thread of that cloth whenever she faced adversity. Krishna fulfilled this exact protective vow during the Dyuta Sabha when the Kauravas attempted to disrobe Draupadi who prayed to Krishna. He seamlessly ex- tended her saree into an infinite stream of cloth, saving her honor. Another prominent instance of a Raksha thread in the Mahabharata occurs just before the tragic death of Arjuna’s son, Abhimanyu, inside the complex Chakra- vyuha formation. Queen Kunti, Abhimanyu’s grandmother, tied a consecrated, mantra-infused Raksha Sutra around Abhimanyu’s wrist to shield him frommortal danger. The protective energy of Kunti’s thread was so potent that even the greatest Kaurava warriors could not pierce Abhimanyu’s defenses. Duryodhana utilized deceptive tactics to snap the thread from Abhimanyu’s wrist and once the Raksha thread fell off, his ultimate vulnerability led to his heroic demise. In the Narada Purana Poorva Bhaga, Chapter 124, Raksha Bandhan is mentioned in its ancient, founda- tional form as a Vedic protection ritual associated with Shravani Upakarma, the commencement of Vedic stud- ies. The text outlines the guidelines for the full moon day of the Shravana month, Shravana Purnima, framing the tying of the protective thread as a critical ritual compo- nent of spiritual education and overall well-being. These epic stories changed how people view the Rak- sha thread. In the earlier Puranas, it was a formal ritual performed by a priest, Purohit, for a king, or a wife, Shachi, for her husband, Indra. Through Lord Krishna’s interactions in the Mahabharata, it evolved into a pow- erful symbol of unconditional love, mutual duty, and divine protection between siblings and devotees. By Archana Adalja Representative photo. Festival News India Times (August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026) September 4, 2026 27