Tattva

Though Rakshabandhan has already passed us in 2008 and is yet to come upon us in 2009, I feel that the sentiment it embodies should be appreciated eternally, and that the value it instills should be practiced every day. For that purpose, I will convey my relationship with this festival. So what does Rakshabandhan mean? It means funny-colored bracelets for us guys and smiles, pictures, hugs for the girls; a couple of moments of perhaps awkward ritual, bearing feelings uniquely and almost exclusively shared by our youth generation. Apart from all of that, though, there’s a palpable ambience that spreads within the family and between the siblings that we also share. Those who have participated in this festival understand the very unique relationship it celebrates.

In Hindu tradition, we portray our values visually. Just as we bend to touch the feet of our elders when we seek their blessings, our sister ties a knot at our wrist to show her firm confidence in us. And similarly, we wear it to show our self-inspired obligation to fulfill our duties as brothers; vowing to be a strong fist when our duty calls and a soft hand when she needs one. 

Rakhis have traditionally embodied that sacred bond between brother and sister, but today, it has the capacity to mean a lot more. Rabindranath Tagore began a practice of Rakhi Utsavs in 1905, in which rakhis were tied to neighbors, friends, and loved ones in an effort to bring the entire community together in harmony. Such an action of innocent but convicted love and faith brought societies together, little by little. Such actions can bear significance to the neighborhoods we live in today as well. Brotherhood and sisterhood and camaraderie are more necessary now than they ever have been. And the emergence of such issues as faith, nationality, and belief as agents of division have endangered the colorless, origin-less, religion-less bond of love from potentially forming between us. 

The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh recently organized a unique project in Virginia. They rallied community youngsters, and traveled to local police stations and firehouses with the objective of showing their appreciation for the officers’ service and bravery by having the kids tie the rakhi for them. Even though the project fell on a Sunday, “five cops who [were off] duty drove back to the police station to [receive their rakhis].” They later “thanked the kids for thinking about them” and rewarded them by “giving them a tour of the fire truck and explaining [to the kids] their services.” The power of honest actions and the expression of love and appreciation prove unwavering, just as Tagore showed us a century ago.

Rakshabandhan is a hallmark time to observe, as it allows a family to re-invite and bring to light again those subtle bonds that may be buried all in a day’s work. But at the same time, Rakshabandhan expands the definition of family. By expressing faith and love for the stranger, we arouse in them a similar spirit, a spirit of humility and responsibility to his or her fellow human being. Such a uniting force is the festival of Rakshabandhan, such a unique celebration within the world’s cultures, that it is only right that we share it with pride; share it with the mission of unity and brotherhood. That is the mission of today’s Rakshabandhan. That is where we fulfill our call to duty as Hindus in our world, and make real Tagore’s vision of amity.

 

Sources:

Meaning & Significance of Rakshabandhan, http://www.raksha-bandhan.com/meaning-significance-of-raksha-bandhan.html

India Interacts, http://hssusa.indiainteracts.com/2008/08/21/hss-celebrates-rakshabandhan-with-american-firefighters-and-police-officers/

 

Anand Jayanti attends the University of Texas at Austin as a freshman, and takes an interest in music, film, and poetry. Having lived in the United States for 15 years with only intermittent trips back home, Anand eternally seeks a means of reattachment.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 at 6:56 am and is filed under Festivals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.