The people of each region and religion have different lifestyles, languages, civilizations, values, social traditions, religious ideologies and beliefs. Everyone’s center of faith is also different, so different festivals are celebrated in different places. India is famous all over the world for its cultural and traditional festivals. It is said that festivals can be celebrated here every month. It is a democratic country where people of different religions, beliefs, civilizations and castes live in large numbers. Believers of every religion and faith have their own cultural and traditional festivals where as some festivals are celebrated together. Each festival is celebrated in a unique way in terms of the customs and historical significance of the people associated with it. However, every festival reflects a bond between particular relationships when a person erases their differences and shares happiness with others.Festivals promote tolerance, love and brotherhood, and social relationships.These are the occasions when human beings share not only their happiness but also the common heritage which is also known as Ganga-Jamni civilization. This common heritage is the identity of us Indians that separates us from others. It is because of these festivals that we believe in living together and walking together. One of such festivals, which show the bond and love between brother and sister, is ‘RAKSHA BANDHAN’. This festival is celebrated as the symbol of love and responsibility for a brother to his sister and for a sister to her brother. This festival even brings people into brother and sister relationships that are not biologically related. India, being the cradle of Ganga-Jamni civilization, is with many examples of Hindu-Muslim solidarity and harmony. There are many instances when a Hindu sister tied a rakhi on the hand of a Muslim brother and the Muslim brother kept his promise to protect her.The Etymology, Tradition, Region, Religion, Cultural, Secular aspects etc. created by human today are sizing one another. However, humanity as a religion is totally against the root of this practice. No doubts religions have a well defined worship practice, but one should differentiate between living religions way and a religious life. The truth is that any religion cannot be against anything that does not harm to others. For me Rakhi, the Raksha Bandhan is just one of the beautiful festivals that promote Love, brotherhood, protection and peace. It is a festival which celebrates the bond of affection between brothers and sisters; it’s the day when people pray for each other’s well being and wish for each happiness and good will.
On this auspicious day brothers make a promise to protect to their sister’s from all harm and troubles and sister’s pray to god to protect their brothers from all. The tradition of Raksha Bandhan is not limited to bother and sisters alone. Rakhi is also tied on the wrists of policemen, security personnel, armed forces personnel, other public officials and statesmen. In return, the public officials vow to protect the society and uphold justice and unparalleled zeal and vigor. Thus, the sister-brother relationship portrayed by the rakhi is far deeper than simply the brother protecting his sister. It contains the basic message of universal brotherhood where everyone looks to each other as a brother and sister of a common global family. The sacred and soft thread of Rakhi contains in it the immense power. This is in fact a weapon that completely destroys the devilish tendencies in human beings and establishes in them the divine tendencies. In reality, a ‘Rakhi’ or sacred thread tied around the right wrist signify the promise of Purity in thought, word and deed. The sacred mark “Tilak” applied to the centre of forehead, the seat of third eye (Soul) is sign of soul consciousness and sweetening the mouth is symptomatic congratulation in advance for having virtuous nature when purity is part of life. By realizing every soul of the world as a human and look at them with the pure vision of brotherhood, will completely wipe out the greatest enemies of the man, i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. Thus Raksha Bandhan is just a simply love bond, where people need to come up above cast, colour, creed, greed, religion and region to flourish this love bond for the betterment of humanity and real spiritually. Raksha Bandhan is about the boundaries and code of conduct that promotes internal transformation & progressive inculcation of soul-consciousness and positive qualities. The need of the hour is to tie this Rakhi on the wrist that further strengthens our relationship with humanity with the firm determination of “Self-Transformation” to “World-Transformation” and give everyone the gift of Goodwill, Love and Co-operation, sweeten the mouth of one-another with sweet words and apply on the forehead, the tilak of soul consciousness and victory over sense organs & vices. So, let us all irrespective of different religious faith, celebrate this ‘Raksha Bandhan’ and empower our self with marvelous values to establish a “Value Based Happy Society of Peace & Non Violence”. The understanding of this eternal truth will usher in religious harmony & world peace. The true way of celebrating ‘Raksha Bandhan’ thus would be to realize the significance of the present auspicious time and by pledging to discard all negative traits such as anger, greed, ego and lust and by leading a life filled of pure love, compassion, respect, humility, cooperation, responsibility and divinity. So let we on this auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, take a moment for deep spiritual introspection and free ourselves from the bondage of greed, the lust for power and a slave of promiscuity and make God our eternal companion for true peace, happiness and prosperity.
(The author is Assistant Professor Chemistry (Selection Grade) at Govt. Degree College Chatroo of Kisgtwar district. Views are his own)
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