Cultural Samvaad| Indian Culture and Heritage

Raksha Bandhan – Sanskrit Shlokas and Wishes | Celebrating the Eternal Bond of Siblings

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When is Raksha Bandhan celebrated? What is its symbolism?

Every year on the full moon day (poornima) of the month of Shravana (July-August), Indians celebrate Raksha Bandhan (also Rakhi), a festival where brothers and sisters reaffirm their eternal bond and everlasting love. The word raksha means protection. Traditionally, sisters used to tie a thread around their brothers hands not only to protect them and pray for their happiness and long life but also so that the brothers could redeem their promise of protecting their sisters forever. In many communities like in Rajashtan, the entire family used to participate in this beautiful ritual replete with meaning. The bond of siblings is forever and the festival of Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of this eternal, beautiful and timeless bond…Greetings on Raksha Bandhan!

Team Cultural Samvaad has put together greetings and shlokas in Sanskrit with meanings in English and Hindi so that they can be used by one and all to wish each other on this grand celebration.

Raksha Bandhan Sanskrit Mantra from Bhavishya Purana – येन बद्धो बली राजा

Raksha Bandhan Sanskrit Greeting - येन बद्धो बली राजा

Raksha Bandhan Prayer from Rig Veda  – सुम्नमस्मे ते अस्तु

Raksha Bandhan Prayer from Rig Veda  - सुम्नमस्मे ते अस्तु 

रक्षा बंधन कब मनाया जाता है? इसका क्या महत्त्व है?

हर साल श्रावण मास (जुलाई-अगस्त) की पूर्णिमा को भारत के अधिकांश क्षेत्रों में रक्षा बन्धन का पवित्र त्योहार मनाया जाता है। पारंपरिक रूप से, बहनें अपने भाइयों के हाथों पर राखी का धागा बांध कर उनकी सुरक्षा, आनंद एवं लंबी उम्र के लिए प्रार्थना करती थीं | भाई अपनी बहनों को वचन देते थे की वह आजीवन उनकी रक्षा करने हेतु सतर्क रहेंगे | राजस्थान में एवं कई समुदायों में तो पूरा परिवार इस खूबसूरत और अर्थपूर्ण अनुष्ठान में सम्मिलित होता है। भाई-बहन, बहन-बहन, भाई-भाई – यह पवित्र रिश्ते सदा के लिए होते हैं एवं रक्षा बंधन का त्योहार इस पवित्र बंधन को और प्रघाड़ बनाने का हमारा एक सांस्कृतिक प्रयास है | शुभ रक्षा बंधन!

Raksha Bandhan Prayer from Atharva Veda  – वयं सर्वेषु यशसः स्याम

Raksha Bandhan Prayer from Atharva Veda  - वयं सर्वेषु यशसः स्यामRaksha Bandhan – Poem by Sarojini Naidu

Rakhi Poem by Sarojini Naidu

 

 

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Team Cultural Samvaad

The Cultural Samvaad Editorial Team researches, curates and develops content on Indian culture, heritage and civilisation under the editorial direction of Garima Chaudhry — guest faculty at Mumbai University and KJ Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies, founder of Hiranya Growth Partners LLP, and alumna of XLRI Jamshedpur. All content is editorially reviewed on a best efforts basis for accuracy, cultural sensitivity and scholarly rigour before publication. Cultural Samvaad's coverage spans - traditions of Indic origin: Sanatan | Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism; Sanskrit and primary texts in multiple langauges; ancient civilisations and history; India's Freedom Movement; India's Constitution and the Republic of India; Bharat's tangible and intangible heritage including UNESCO World Heritage and Indian arts among others.

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