Monday, Aug 7, 2006
Rakhi Festival Keeps up With Changing with Times
By Chandrika Jain
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 Photo Credit DDI News Preparations are in full swing in many parts of the country for Raksha Bandhan, the sibling festival, which falls on Wednesday. Markets are packed with a variety of colorful Rakhis along with tempting sweets and chocolates.
This season, Rakhis featuring Superman, Krrish (Hrithik Roshan starrer movie) and little Hanuman are proving to be a major attraction for children. A number of parents were seen being pestered by their kids for cartoon imprinted rakhis.
“Markets have new range of rakhis, mostly attracting children. Rakhi like Jai Hanuman, Krrish and Spiderman are among those appealing to kids. Basically, these are the characters which they see on television and get influenced by theses characters,” Raj Kumar, a shopkeeper said.
“I have come here to buy a Rakhi for my loving and caring brother. I really like Hanuman Rakhi and Krrish Rakhi. Even I bought one of this Rakhi for my brother,“ Shweta, a 12-year-old buyer, said.
Battery-operated glowing Rakhi, Rakhis featuring teady-bear, car, mobile and mouse rakhis are a hit among children aged between two and 14 years.
Some of the rakhis have been made of resham and zari threads and are decorated with different items like beads, semi-precious stones or imitation jewelry.
“We prefer to buy traditional rakhis for my brother like Chandan Rakhi, Dora Rakhi, Kalwa Rakhi, Resham-ki-dori, Gold-plated Rakhi with images of Gods,“ Simmi Mahajan, another buyer, said.
Satish from Bhoj Sweets said, “We are introducing three different varieties of sweets this season, including sandwich, cheese and cheese flower sweets. Theses have generally low calorie content and are picked up by health-conscious customers.”
When asked about competition with the new trend of buying chocolates on the occasions, Satish said, “theses days most of the people prefers chocolates instead of sweets. But still by sweets we feel the presence of festival”.
Sunita, who came here to buy sweets said, “Rakhi is festival that celebrates the eternal bond of love and affection between brothers and sisters and it comes only once in a year. So to celebrate it, I have come here to buy sweets for my brother. I have seen variety of sweets and wanted to buy single piece of sweet for my loving brother.”
Ladies have always been fond of putting Mehandi on their palms. But during the festival of Rakhi, Mehandi too has special importance.
“On the occasion of Rakhi, we decorate each others' palms with different styles of Mehandi such as Marwadi, Shekhawati or Mumbaiya style. Thus, Mehandi has become a part of Rakhi festival,“ Shobha said while decorating her friend’s palm.
Rakhi is a festival of brother and sister which symbolizes the love and the emotional bond between them. On Rakhi day, it is a custom that the brothers make a promise to their sisters to protect and safeguard them against all the evil forces.
Though, Rakhi festival has special importance for the brothers and sisters yet entire family celebrates this festival with great zeal and enthusiasm.
The oldest reference to the festival of Rakhi goes back to 300 B.C when Alexander invaded India. It is said that the great conqueror, King Alexander of Macedonia was shaken by the fury of the King Puru in his first attempt. Upset by this, Alexander's wife, who had heard of the Rakhi festival, approached King Puru. The King accepted her as his sister and when the opportunity came during the war, he refrained from attacking Alexander.
Another famous legend is about Queen Karnawati and Emperor Humayun. When Rani Karnawati the widowed queen of the King of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun. The Emperor touched by the gesture started off with his troops to help her newly found sister in trouble. (ANI)
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