Lambodar Sahu

In the full moon day of the Hindu month ‘Shravana’ the festival Rakhi Purnima falls. In Indian mythology the month of Shravan is very auspicious and the full moon day has utmost importance in it. Rakhi Purnima is vital in Indian culture as it is celebrated in almost all states of India with a reach heritage and it spreads the love and affection between the siblings through a holy bond of thread called the “Rakhsya Bandhan“.

Different states seem to posses different causes towards the celebration of this festival and follow unique way of celebrating this. In the western part of India where the people usually dependent on the sea, this festival is known to as to worship God Varuna who is the God of the sea. People throw coconut into the sea as a mark that the fishing session is going to be started. Therefore this festival is also called “Coconut Purnima“.

In the south, Raksha Bandhan is called Avani Avittam. At this part of the region it is generally regarded as the festival of Brahmins. The people generally take a holy bath in the river and then change their holy thread which is always attached to their body to indicate that they belong to the particular caste i.e. Brahmin. In this auspicious occasion they read the holy Gita and vows to dedicate themselves for the welfare of the mankind.

It is celebrated as Kajari Purnima in the North India. During this festival time farmers usually seeds the wheat and bali in their farm and it signifies the great devotee of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi the mighty King Bally. People generally make cake and sweets in their home and they go to the temple to worship the God.

In the eastern part of the country like Bengal and Orissa it is celebrated as the Birth day of Lord Balaram and people worship their cows and cattle to remember the great God was burn amidst them. The most significant incident that occurs in this festival is that sister usually ties a thread of bond “Rakhi” in her brother’s hand expecting that his brother will help him through out her life as a protector and will be there in all her happy and sorrows.