Rakhi Customs & Rituals
On the auspicious day of Rakhi all the sisters and brothers get up early in the morning. They wear new clothes on this occasion and get ready for their special festival. Generally there is a ‘Shubh-Muhurt’ for performing the tying of Rakhi to the brothers. Therefore they get ready accordingly.
Sisters decorate a ‘Thali’ (A Plate) especially for the occasion of Rakhi. They keep all the necessary items like Roli (for Tilak), Akshat (rice grains for Tilak), Diya or Deepak (for performing the Arti of their brother), Sweets and the Rakhi in that beautifully decorated Thali. First of all the sisters put Tilak on the forehead of their brother and then stick some of the Akshat to the same Tilak. Then they perform the Arti of their brothers. After that they tie the Rakhi, preferably, on the right wrist of their brothers.
While performing the tying of the Rakhi on to the brothers, sisters generally chant the following ‘mantra’…
“Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah
tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala”
This is a ‘mantra’ mentioned in the ‘Hindu Shastras’ and it means…
“I am tying a Rakhi on you, like the one on mighty demon king Bali. Be firm, O Rakhi, do not falter.”
After tying the Rakhi the sisters sweeten the mouth of their brothers with sweets.
Then it is the brother’s turn to give some gifts to their sisters. This gift can be either in cash or in kind. Sometimes the sisters also give return gifts to their brothers.
Thus on the festive occasion of Rakhi the brothers and sisters wish happy long life, success, prosperity and health to each other. In last all of them seek the blessings of their parents and other elderly people in their family. After that they go to visit their relatives and to exchange the greetings with them.
Tags: &, Customs, Rakhi, Rituals