According to the custom for all festivals and pujas, the lady of the house
dresses up early in the morning in fine clothes and bathes the gods and the goddesses.The puia room is swept and cleaned with a wet cloth,
and a chowk is laid out on the floor. All girls, whether married or not, wear clothes with
a touch of zari.
The Puja thaal -
with water, roli, aipun, rice, flowers, coconut, and rakhis is placed before the gods.
After worshopping the gods the daughter of
the house applies the teeka on the forehead of his brother,then little rice is stuck onto
the Rakhis and then is tied on the wrists of her brother and they
acknowledge this relationship by accepting it with grace and love.Sisters also put some "mithai"
in his mouth and bless him. |
| With this rakhi,
she bestows deep affection and blessings on her brothers so as to guard them against all
harm, and prays to the Almighty to give the very best to them. These feelings are the ones
that symbolise Raksha Bandhan. Gifts and presents are given to the sisters on this occasion are
not of any consequence, but only a symbolic gesture.
The puja of Raksha Bandhan is performed in
the morning as the family members disperse early for their places of work or study.
The men hurry away with the rakhi and teeka
intact, as it is a matter of pride to show that one is loved and cared for at home.
The celebration of Raksha Bandhan is marked
by happiness and excitement especially for young girls and women and is celebrated with
gaiety by the rich and the poor alike. Whatever be the constraints, the sisters abide by
this tradition. |