Raksha Bandhan / Rakhi Gift Tradition
Rakhi is the festival of celebrating the love and pure relationship of brother and sister. Rakhi is celebrated in different parts of the country. Sister ties the Rakhi in the hand of the brother wishing the good health, long life of a brother. Brother also pledges to protect the sister from any circumstances and keep the sister happy. Brother and sister exchange the Rakhi wishes to each other. It is celebrated with lots of joy.
This festival shows the love, affection, purity in the relationship of brother and sister. In Rakhi, sister shop the rakhi, or she makes her own woven rakhi, the day or week before of the Rakhi. Rakhi has it another name called “Raksha Bandhan” which means in Sanskrit as the savior tie of the sister to his brother. Brother also shops the gift for his sister ahead the day of the Rakhi, and gift that to his sister with the promise that he will save her for the rest of his life. It’s the really sweet tradition that brings the relation of the brother and sister closer than before.
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Gift worth from many ways, and signifies how they care about each other. This tradition has been followed by the number of the years. Sometimes it brings the memory of each other in case of the distant relation. Simply sister shops the rakhi for his brother, but along with that, she gifts her brother something that signifies her love and affectionate with him.
History of the rakhi gift tradition
The history of the rakhi festival is famous for its gift tradition, some of them are discussed here. From the Hindu myth, goddess Laxmi (goddess of wealth) tied rakhi to Bali Raja and in turn, he fulfilled her abode with Narayana. Alexander’s life was a gift to his wife by king Porus, who had tied a rakhi to him. Similarly, Humayun reached out to help Rani Karmawati because she tied her the rakhi. Thus sending the rakhi gifts to the sister are from the ancestral period as the rakhi tradition. In fact, rakhi return gifts are in fact the appreciation and the acceptance of the sisterly love. It is also believed that when sisters come to their brothers or parents place then, as the Rakhi Gift Tradition, she is gifted when she is going back to the home. Rakhi Gift Tradition took its new form in today’s modern era and became a symbol of the brotherly pledge.
Traditionally followed gift from sister
Rakhi:-
Rakhi is found of the different type, varying from the simple thread woven or the colorful thread or with the gems and colorful glass decoration in it. Some sister wishes to move by themselves, and they get learn from the elder or from the internet video. Nowadays rakhis have been replaced by the fancy men watch or the wrist accessories like bracelets or the gold ornament. And such rakhi is usually durable and worth much on another day too. However, that depends on how much she can afford but the real joy in this tradition is the savior knot with the wish of her brother good health and prosperity.
Gift from sister to her brother:-
Usually, it is practiced that sister ties the rakhi and brother give her the rakhi gift in return, but sister also has to gift her brother that brings some memory of her during distant relation. She also offers the sweets and food either she makes them herself or she buys from the market, to make the day sweet as those sweets. Dry fruits can be another alternative to the sweets. In option to the gift that sister can offer her brother, there can be a verity of the option. Usually the clothes, watches, or ornaments are under priority, and usually, sister understands what might suit to his brother or what he is in need at the moment and match her choice on the gift. So, having a sister is really the lucky omen.
See Also: How to celebrate Rakhi festival in Hindu
Rakhi Gift Tradition is followed by brother
Giving cash:-
Presenting return gifts to the sisters on the day of the rakhi is the oldest tradition that is being followed since ages. This Rakhi Gift Tradition has its own beauties in the brother and sister relationship and further strengthen the bond of the love and caring nature between brother and sister. Earlier, cash was given as a return gift of rakhi to the sister. At that time, the cash amount could be from Rs 1 to Rs 21 and so on. Eventually, the tradition of giving cash was replaced by the gift item. And the gift can be anything depending upon their afford, but the cutest thing in this festival is that we get the closeness to the sister and have the quality time with the family.
Giving gift:-
The Rakhi Gift Tradition as the accessory shopping from the market has been recently followed tradition before this brother offers cash to his sister or nothing. There are many choices that sister can shop for his brother. But she has to understand what gift is really an ideal one for his sister. mostly girls love the fancy dress or ornament. If she is a teenager then, obviously she prefers the dress, shoes. If she is a kid then buying the doll, or the playing games would be the better. Whatever would be the gift but it should make worth to her that she remembers you when she is with that. Sweets and chocolate can be gifted as well. If she is married then you can gift her, typical cultural dress like sari and blouse.
Gifts are not usually monetarized or compared because of all the value that worth of the gift is the emotional attachment of the brother and sister. it brings the caring, love and respect in the relation. Sometimes it helps to makes the memory of the past time fresh. Gifts hold the memory of the person in the distant relationship. So while choosing the gift, it must be something that remains most of the time and comes to more in use and make the feel of togetherness while they use it.
Author-( Poonam Neupane)
