“Rakhi has become just as hip and cool as Valentine’s Day and Friendship Day. Youngsters exchange gifts and tie rakhi for the sake of fun,” she informs.[break]
Many teenagers today use rakhi more as a fancy fashion accessory than a sacred cord of devotion and affection. These days, it’s considered trendy to have a “rakhi brother” at school. Also, rakhi has become an easy way to get rid of unwanted romantic proposals since it can be tied on the wrist of any unsuspecting male. However, there are also some teenagers who have real sentimental values attached to these decorative strings.
Photos: Dipesh Shrestha/Nishant Sawarthia
Akriti Sharma, 18, is ecstatic on the eve of Rakshya Bandhan. She has bought a gorgeous rakhi and her golden platter is decorated with diyo, sweets and tika. Having spent a greater part of her life in Nepalgunj, she has always celebrated this festival with a lot of joy and vigor.
“Rakshya Bandhan deepens the brother-sister bond. It’s extra special for me since it brings back the fond memories of childhood,” she gushes.
Daibagya Jyotishi Kirti Madan Joshi, a culture expert, associates the idea of psychological security by sharing an ancient tale related to the festival, as cited in the Hindu epic “MahaBharat.” It is believed that while killing Sishupal with his Sudarshan Chakra, Lord Krishna sliced his finger. Draupadi then tore off a part of her sari and tied up the bleeding gash. Krishna, who considered her his sister, later used that same piece of cloth to drape her in a never-ending sari while Dushashan of the Kauravas attempted to strip her naked in front of everyone in the palace. The tiny bit of cloth that Draupadi tied on Krishna’s finger is equated with rakhi.
Shweta Bagla, 25, considers Rakshya Bandhan a sweet and “feel good” festival that creates a positive vibe in the atmosphere. It symbolizes a unique male-female bond where both stand as siblings and as equals. The sister nurtures her brother while the brother protects his sister. Shweta, who doesn’t have a brother, ties rakhi to Lord Ganesh. “The thread is just a symbol of the faith that somewhere somebody is watching over you,” she comments.
Rakshya Bandhan or Janai Purnima is celebrated every year on the day of the Shrawan Shukla Purnima. It is also linked with the ancient story of King Bali and Lord Vishnu. Bali had promised Vishnu, who appeared in the guise of a Baman (midget) at his doorstep, enough land to be covered by the dwarf’s puny three steps, as he had requested. Vishnu, upon the first step, took over the whole Earth while his second step filled up the entire sky. There was no space for the third step, so the king had to offer his head to rest the stepping foot. Bali was then tethered with “varunpaash,” a strong holy thread, and submerged into the Underworld. The threads tied on this day remind of King Bali’s charity and greatness which led him to offer his head when he was unable to fulfill his promise. They are knotted with a belief that they will ward off all kinds of evils and misfortunes to the wearer.
“Janai” is the six intertwined holy threads worn slantingly round the neck and shoulder by those men who have performed the rites of “upanayan” or “bratabandha” (a ritual which signifies the coming of age of a Hindu male). On this day, one takes off the old janai and wears a new one after following certain rituals. Women and those men who haven’t performed bratabandha have a sacred red-yellow thread tied around the wrist by priests at home and temples.
Arun Nepal, a local priest, is a busy man on Janai Purnima. He goes to different homes tying the holy thread on the wrists of people. This thread is believed to be powerful in the sense that it keeps illness, bad luck and evil spirits away from the wearer. However, nowadays, this ancient notion is slowly losing its grip as people are choosing to forgo janai throughout the year and wear it only on the day of Janai Purnima for its namesake.
“Wearing a janai is like believing in god. It makes you feel more confident during troubles,” emphasizes Nepal.
With changing times and values, festivals too are remodeling and reinventing themselves. The core idea of psychological security and the alleged roots of origin remain the same. However, in the present scenario, rakhi appears to be gaining more popularity over janai.
The festival has been observed since the Vedic times and has the holy threads at its heart that are considered powerful, auspicious and sacred. Nevertheless, Rakshya Bandhan apparently has become more glamorized with the flashy rakhis and expensive gifts that have come into the picture. Janai Purnima and the janai, in comparison, still appear to have remained relatively untouched by this modern-day hullabaloo.
Nepal believes that this is happening because the Vedic rituals associated with the janai are often lengthy and tedious. During these busy times, it is often difficult for the present generation to follow all those ancient rites and lead a strictly disciplined life that comes as an essential part of wearing a janai. That being said, he insists that culture and identity are elements that need to be retained.
“We may not be able to follow everything. Nevertheless, we need to keep our culture alive,” he concludes.
Shweta, however, believes that Rakshya Bandhan too has its own downsides in the sense that people often tend to exchange the most expensive gifts in order to compete with their friends and relatives.
When one sends rakhi even to those brothers who are seas apart, the small piece of thread becomes a special bond of love and reverence. But when the same rakhi becomes a reason to show off and brag, it starts to lose its beauty and worth.
“Festivals are all about togetherness. But the increasing culture of pretentiousness is overshadowing their religious and sentimental significance,” she comments.
Akriti, on the other hand, has her own opinion regarding the issue. She believes that the manner in which a certain festival is celebrated depends on the society and surroundings. Akriti’s parents, who grew up in Pokhara, were raised in a culture that consisted only of Janai Purnima. But later, when they migrated to Nepalgunj, a locale in west Tarai, Akriti grew up in an environment where Rakshya Bandhan was a major reason for celebration. At present, the family celebrates both events on the same day with equal devotion and enthusiasm.
“There’s nothing wrong if somebody likes to have huge celebrations or wishes to observe one or both the events. It’s always an individual’s choice,” she generalizes.
Janai Purnima or Rakshya Bandhan is observed in multiple ways and for different reasons. It is not a matter of one subculture overtaking or overshadowing the other. It is all about maintaining a harmonious coexistence. And, after all, deep down, the central idea of security, trust, compassion, affection and devotion remain identical. The methods of festivities may have changed; nonetheless, both these aspects of the same Nepali Hindu culture hold equal significance in society.
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