Rakhi, a thread that defines love

Bhubaneswar: Rakhi is much more than just a thread. It is a symbol that denotes unconditional love that sisters usher upon their dear brothers who in turn vow to stand by them under all circumstances. People from all spheres of life will celebrate this auspicious ceremony of Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Purnima with great fervour and gaiety across the State today.

Raksha bandhan literally meaning "bond of protection" is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month of Shravana, symbolising sister’s love and her brother's promise to protect her under all circumstances. Sisters on this day tie Rakhi or a specially designed colourful thread on wrists of their brothers and seek blessings and log life for them.

First of all they prepare a ‘puja thali’ containing colourful and decorated rakhis, tilak, rice grains, diyas and sweets and perform ‘aarti’, put tilak on the forehead of their brothers and then tie Rakhi. The ritual ends with the brothers and sisters exchanging sweets.

Odisha also called the land of Shree Jagannath has a special place for the holy festival with Devi Subhadra initiating the observance by tying rakhi to her brothers Lord Jagannath and Balabhadra. The festival, also known as Gamha Purnima, is celebrated with great religious fervour inside the temple during which Lord Sudarshan escorted by ‘Choudola’ embarks on a visit to Markand pond.