Changes in the traditions of rakhi return gifts

Jun 11
12:18

2015

Jeet Singh

Jeet Singh

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Festivals are times for social gatherings and family reunions. Rakshabandhan is a traditional Indian festival focusing on sister and brother relationship. The day is marked by the tying of the sacred thread known as rakhi. There have been some changes in rakhi traditions but the essence of the festival remains the same.

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Festivals are integral parts of human society and culture. They are perfect times for community celebrations,Changes in the traditions of rakhi return gifts Articles social gatherings and renewing familial ties. And Rakshabandhan, a traditional Indian festival is one such occasion which really fosters family and societal bonds. In the rapidly changing atmosphere of a modern world where familial ties and personal relationships are second to commerce, the festival comes as a refreshing break. Although the celebrations are primarily focused on the relationship between a brother and sister, the festival transcends blood ties and involves the whole community.

On the occasion of Rakshabandhan, brothers and sisters everywhere reach out to one another praying for the well being of their siblings, and wishing them happiness and goodwill. The most important tradition of the festival involves the sacred thread which is also known as rakhi. And it is from the name of this thread only that Rakshabandhan is also called the Rakhi festival. The rakhi thread is considered to be that powerful and the ties it binds are everlasting. Indian tradition maintains that when a woman ties the thread on any male, he naturally becomes honor bound to treat her like his own sister and protect her at all costs. There are many instances from history that illustrates this tradition. When Bahadur Shah attacked Rani Karnawati, the widowed queen of Chittor, she sent a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun. And touched by this gesture, the Emperor is said to have set out immediately with his army to help the forces of Chittor. The great Macedonian king Alexander too was protected by the Indian King Porus at the battlefield as he had been tied a rakhi by Alexander’s wife.

The tradition of help and safeguarding comes from the vow that the brothers take after their sisters tie the rakhi on them. It is a pledge to keep and protect their sisters from all harm all the time and at any costs. Besides this, they also present her with gifts as a mark of their appreciation and acceptance of the relationship. Nowadays sisters too present gifts to their brothers.

With the onset of time the traditions might have changed in little ways but the essence of the festival still remains the same. Brothers and sisters still exchange rakhi and gifts on the occasion and even if one is far away from the country and cannot be present there in time for the occasion, they send rakhi and gifts through the internet. It is hard to imagine leaving out a brother or sister because of distance at Rakshabandhan and online shopping has been of much convenience at connecting people. One can send rakhi gifts to Delhi of Rakhi gifts to Delhi or any other destination in the country with just a simple click of the mouse. Besides that, the delivery services for sending rakhi gifts to Delhi are of low cost compared to postal and courier services.