The festival of Raksha Bandhan involves tying of rakhi, a sacred thread, by a sister on her brother´s wrist. Rakhi symbolizes a sister´s love and prayers for her brother´s well-being, and the brother´s lifelong vow to protect her.
“I want the best Rakhi for my brother. This festival is very special for me and my brother,” said Shahi. She has strong faith in the festival´s significance. She has been celebrating the festival since her childhood. “Every year, Rakhi refreshes our relationship and makes it stronger.” [break]
Like Shahi, Kavita Mahata, 19, was buying Rakhi for her three brothers at Chabahil on Tuesday. A student of BBA at Apex College, mid-Baneshwor, Mahata loves the festival as she gets various kinds of gifts from her three brothers. “I am always excited about this festival. Rakhi is one of my favorite festivals because in this festival I get many gifts from my brothers.”
Mahata thinks Rakhi is a festival for all people. “Many people regard it as the festival of Indians only, which is not true,” said Mahata. According to her, all people must celebrate it as it is very important for the relationship of brother and sister. It creates strong bonding and increase love among brothers and sisters.
Raksha Bandhan, which falls on the occasion of Janai Purnima, is being observed across the country on Wednesday.
Many shopkeepers start displaying Rakhi days before the festival. People throng shops that sell Rakhi, mainly in Asan and New Baneshwar.
According to culture expert, Jayanta Acharya, from the people of Tarai region, the festival spread all over the country. It does not have a long history in Nepal.
“Most people of the Kathmandu Valley do not celebrate it, but almost all the people in Tarai celebrate the festival,” says Acharya.
Along with the love of the brothers and sisters, priests also tie scared thread around the hands of all Hindu people. The thread is believed to rid people of three negative qualities: rish (anger), raag (clinging) and bhaya (fear), and inculcate good qualities.
Similarly, in the festival male member change their Janai which they have to wear until the next Janai Purnima, according to the Hindu´s faith.
According to Acharya, the ritual was started by the Brahmins to start their education. Until, a person would not wear Janai in Janai purnima, the person would not get the opportunity to have education during ancient times.
The festival is also popular in Nepal as a day when people eat Quati, or a mix of different kinds of seeds.
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