Handmade threads (rakhis) kept on a wooden surface

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An unbreakable bond between siblings. Raksha Bandhan

Today we are celebrating Raksha Bandhan, the festival that marks the unconditional love and affection between brothers and sisters. It is a time-honoured ritual of protection. While “Raksha” literally translates to ‘safety’, “bandhan” means ‘bond’, and the festival of Rakha Bandhan is a celebration of this unbreakable bond that exists between siblings with a promise to always be there to protect, no matter what the circumstances would be.

The story of Raksha Bandhan is related to the Hindu epic Mahabharata. In Mahabharata, Lord Krishna once cut his finger which then started bleeding. Seeing this, Draupadi tore a piece of cloth from her saree and tied it to his finger to stop the bleeding. The piece of cloth then became a sacred thread. Krishna was so touched by this gesture that in return, he vowed that he would always be there to protect and cherish her. Later, when the Kauravas tried to disrobe Draupadi, Krishna salvages her dignity by providing immeasurable reams of cloth to keep her covered.

The act of Draupadi tying a piece of cloth on Krishna's wounded finger is synonymous with Raksha Bandhan — a girl tying rakhi on her brother's wrist and he, in turn, promising to protect her just as Krishna protected Draupadi.