The festival of Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 26 this year. On the occasion, sisters tie a sacred thread called rakhi to their brothers’ wrists and brothers, in turn, promise they will always protect their sisters. While often the relationship between siblings involves squabbling and gentle teasing, Raksha Bandhan is all about love and actually letting your sibling know what they mean to you.
So here we bring you the history of Raksha Bandhan as why it is celebrated .
Raksha Bandhan Festival History
Raksha Bandhan is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August. On this day, sisters of all ages tie a cotton bracelet or amulet, called the rakhi, around the wrists of their brothers, ritually affirming the bond and support of her brothers, receiving a gift from them in return, and traditionally investing the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care.
According to one legendary narrative, when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BCE, Roxana (or Roshanak, his wife) sent a sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. In accordance with tradition, Porus, the king of Kaikeya kingdom, gave full respect to the rakhi. In the Battle of the Hydaspes, when Porus saw the rakhi on his own wrist and restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally
