Celebrating Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in South Asia and other parts of the world influenced by Hindu culture.

Hindus traditionally observe Rakṣha Bandhan — which in Sanskrit means “bond of protection” — as a holiday to reaffirm the relationship between sisters and brothers. Irrespective of caste and creed, people from all walks of life participate in this festival. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the lunar month Shravana (Shravana Poornima) which typically falls in the August month of Gregorian calendar.  

On this day, a sister symbolically ties a string known as a Rākhī (pronounced rah-Khee) around her brother’s wrist to protect him from life’s adversities and pray for his health. The brother in return offers a gift and promises to protect his sister from any harm. The festival is also celebrated between brother-sister belonging to distant family members, relatives or cousins.

This past weekend on August 29th, volunteers of the Wilton chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) a cultural nonprofit based in Fairfield County, with many Wilton members, held an annual ceremony of Raksha Bandhan at the firehouse recognizing Wilton’s CERT, EMS, fire and police personnel and the work they do.  Also joining the celebration were members of the Wilton Interfaith Action Committee and other civic leaders including Congressman Jim Himes (D-4th).

Channeling a spirit of appreciation, Hindu community members shared a blessing of safety and protection for Wilton’s first-responder community.  The members of the group tied red decorative bracelet strings onto the wrists of responders, gave prayers and, for the responders open to the custom, also decorated their mind’s eye, or “third eye,” at the center of their forehead with a “tilak” — a spot of red powder made from turmeric and lime known as “kumkuma,” mixed with grains of rice. Sweet cakes were also given out.

Since 2004, HSS has celebrated Raksha Bandhan as “Universal Oneness Day,” broadening its scope from the family to the wider community, extending the idea of community connection and protecting one another. HSS members believe it reaffirms the group’s social and civic responsibilities to support and protect its wider community by meeting with civic leaders and public safety officers to offer them the “bond of protection” by tying Rākhīs on them.

I was so inspired by seeing the sense of community in this event.  Seeing the celebration of Raksha Bandhan here in Wilton made me realize that it’s not just the brothers protecting sisters. Everyone is responsible for protecting society and the world.  We should all pray for the safety of our first responders and promise to help the community whenever needed.

Photo Credit: Sgt. John Patry and others take part in the Raksha Bandhan ceremony. Credit: Jarret Liotta / GOOD Morning Wilton