Why Do We Celebrate Raksha Bandhan?

Raksha Bandhan is an age-old Indian custom that celebrates the bond between a brother and sister. It is one of the biggest festivals in India and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country. According to the Hindu calendar, Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is celebrated on the Purnima Tithi (Full Moon day) in the holy month of Shravana (a month devoted to Lord Shiva). 

Why Do We Celebrate Raksha Bandhan? 

Rakhi has been celebrated in the country for hundreds of years and has a long past. There are several myths and legends related to the beginning of the celebrations of Rakhi that we are going to share with you today. Here we go.

1) Indra and Sachi

According to the Bhavishya Purana narrative, there was once a bloody conflict between Gods and demons.

Lord Indra, the chief deity of the sky, rain, and thunderbolts, was fighting on the side of the gods and was facing up against the formidable demon King, Bali. The conflict dragged on for a very long time without coming to a clear conclusion. After noticing this, Indra’s wife Sachi rushed to Lord Vishnu, who gave her a holy cotton thread bracelet. Sachi placed the thread around his wrist of Lord Indra and he could ultimately slew the demons and retrieved the Amaravati.

That’s why queens in the past used to fasten holy threads to their husbands before they left for battle.

2) King Bali and Lakshmi

According to the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana, when Lord Vishnu defeated the demon King Bali to win the three realms, the demon king requested that Vishnu dwell next to him in the palace. The request was granted, and the Lord moved in with the demon king.

Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu, wished to go back to Vaikuntha, where she was born. She then transformed Bali, the demon king, into a brother by wrapping a rakhi around his wrist. Then Goddess Lakshmi asked about the return gift and requested Bali to release her husband from the promise and allow him to go back to Vaikuntha.

When Bali granted the request, Lord Vishnu and his wife, Goddess Lakshmi, went back to their home.

3) Santoshi Maa

It is stated that Shubh and Labh, the two sons of Lord Ganesha, were sad because they lacked a sister. They requested their father for a sister and finally, after Saint Narada’s assistance, Lord Ganesha created Santoshi Maa using the heavenly fires and gave his two sons a sister in time for Raksha Bandhan.

4) Mahabharat

According to a Mahabharata narrative, Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, tied a rakhi to Lord Krishna, while Kunti, before the epic battle, tied a rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu.

We hope you find these stories interesting and have more knowledge about the beautiful festival of Rakhi. For more such interesting content, follow us on Instagram.