Raksha Bandhan 2017: Know Shubh Muhurat timing, significance

Rakhi 2017 is special as Lunar Eclipse will also be seen on Monday, after 9 years on the same day.

The brother-sister bond is indeed special. Raksha Bandhan celebrates this special bond you share with your sibling. The ritual is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan, on which sisters tie the sacred Rakhi string on their brothers' right wrists, and pray for their long lives. In turn the brother vows to protect his sister from any trouble that comes her way and gifts her a loving present.

Rakhi 2017 is special as Lunar Eclipse will also be seen on Monday, after 9 years on the same day.

According to the astrologers, the lunar eclipse or Chandra grahan will take place from 10:33PM IST on Monday night till 12:48AM. Bhadra Kaal will be observed till 11:04 AM and Sootak will start at 1:40PM in the afternoon on Monday.

Like all Indian festivals, the festival of Rakhi has numerous tales, mythology, history associated with it. Here are 5 things you need to know about the festival.

Mythology

There are number of stories associated with festivity of Raksha Bandhan and it is also pointed out in Mahabharata. Perhaps the most popular of the rakhi stories in our mythology is that of Lord Krishna and Draupadi -- the wife of the five Pandavas.

According to one version on a Sankranti day, Krishna managed to cut his little finger while handling sugarcane. Rukmini, his queen immediately sent her help to get a bandage cloth while Sathyabama, his other consort rushed to bring some cloth herself. Draupadi who was watching all of this rather simply tore off a part of her sari and bandaged his finger.

In return for this deed, Krishna promised to protect her in time of distress. The word he is said to have uttered is 'Akshyam' which was a boon: 'May it be unending'.

And that was how Draupadi's sari became endless and saved her embarrassment on the day she was disrobed in full public view in king Dritarashtra's court.

Rakhi in history

The strong bond represented by Rakhi has resulted in innumerable political ties among kingdoms and princely states. The pages of Indian history testify that the Rajput and Maratha queens have sent Rakhis even to Mughal kings who, despite their differences, have accommodated their Rakhi-sisters by offering help and protection at critical moments to honor the fraternal bond.

What does Rakhi celebrate?

The thread of love, ‘rakhi,' pulsates with sublime sentiments attached to sisterly love and is rightly termed as ‘rakhi' standing for ‘raksha'. The festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan' signifies that the strong must protect the weak.

Family bonding

This ritual not only strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters but also transcends the confines of the family. When a Rakhi is tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbors, it underscores the need for a harmonious social life, in which individuals co-exist peacefully as brothers and sisters.

The trend of exchanging gifts on Rakhi

The trend of exchanging rakhis gifts during Raksha Bandhan is as old as rakhi itself.Sisters try and select the best rakhis for their brothers and o ften opt for designer rakhis. Brothers also purchase bags, wallets, cosmetics, artificial jewelry, teddies, chocolates, cakes, and flowers for their sweet and beloved sisters.

OneIndia News