Rakhi Festival

The Rakshabandhan (Rakhi) Festival
(July-August)

The brotherly duties and sisterly love are symbolized during the Rakshabandhan (ruk-shaa-bum-dha-na) festival in India. Women, old and young alike tie specially made threads and thread watches (rakhis) to their brothers to ensure their welfare, and protection from the evil.

The festival has evolved in the recent times and the symbolism has been changed to connote 'brotherly love'. The all male volunteers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (the RSS), engage in a large celebration, tying the rakhis to each other, symbolizing universal brotherhood. It is used by many girls to keep unwanted romantic advancements by boys away (once you tied a rakhi, you are considered like a brother and cannot be engaged in a romantic relationship with the person).

Sisters line up to tie Rakhi to their brother

Vikas Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

Rakhi Festival
Detail from a Indian Postal Envelope