The bond of love The bond of Trust
The festival which truly celebrates
the bond between a brother and a sister (siblings and cousins)

Celebrated in the month of August on a full moon day(purnima)
Known as Rakhi Purnima

Rakhi-The sacred thread ,
which the sister ties on the wrist of her brother .
This festival is known
as Raksha Bandhan

Raksha - means to protect
Bandhan - To be bound (Bond)
Raksha Bandhan - The Bond of Protection
A festival celebrated by Hindus all over the country.

The Celebration
The sister buys a Rakhi for her brother
Prepares or buys sweets for her brother .
On the auspicious morning ,
The brother and sister both deck up in their traditional fineries.

The sister readies a plate full of sweets ,
with a little vermilion soaked in water
along with a few rice grains ,  to be applied as vertical mark (tilak) on the brother's forehead.
Believed to blessings from the lord .
A lit lamp for aarti
and the Rakhi(sacred thread) which she ties on the brother's wrist ,
wishing him the best .

The brother in return promises to look after her and presents her with gifts .


* This is not a poem , more of an account of the festival and the celebration.
With time and distances it is not always possible to bring in the festival together.
However, the sister mails across the Rakhi  to the brother, as I did :)*

Have beautiful memories of this festival from my younger days , celebrated with siblings and cousins alike .

Thank you all for reading !!