Raksha Bandhan and Rabindranath Tagore

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1.What is Raksha Bandhan? : Raksha Bandhan is essentially a Bengali festival. It is basically celebrated on the day of Purnima of the Bengali month Shraban. On this day the sisters tie a red thread called the Rakhi, around the wrist of their brothers, symbolically for their goodness and protecting them, receiving a gift for return. It is celebrated all over our country India.

2.Who introduced Raksha Bandhan? :

It is the Bengalis who have given Rakhi a place in the political arena beyond religious and social boundaries. And the name of the Nobel prize winner poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore shall come in the context of this Raksha Bandhan of Bengalis.

3.First instance of Raksha Bandhan and it's purpose: Rabindranath used Rakhi as an important medium to oppose the partition of Bengal in 1905. On July 20 of that year, the British government declared the partition of Bengal. It was informed that this law would come into force on 16th October in 1905, in the Bengali month of 30th Ashwin. At that time people irrespective of religion and caste joined in the protest against the partition of Bengal. It was decided that on that day the people of Bengal will tie yellow thread in each other's hands. This day is celebrated as Milon Dibas( Union Day). Ravindranath declared that this day will be celebrated as the Raksha Bandhan festival. Rabindranath took this initiative to promote harmony and brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims in Bengal. But that Raksha Bandhan festival did not take place in the month of Shraban or Purnima. The main theme of Raksha Bandhan was not only the brother and sister but the unity between all the peoples of Bengal. The way in which harmony took place on that Raksha Bandhan festival is still relevant today.

4.Further about Raksha Bandhan:

Rabindranath wrote a song about that Raksha Bandhan festival called "Banglar mati,banglar jol,banglar bayu,banglar fol punyo houk punyo houk he bhagwan" ( "May the soil of Bengal, the water of Bengal, the air of Bengal, the fruit of Bengal be virtuous, be virtuous, O God").

If we look at the history, we can see that the Raksha Bandhan festival was celebrated on 30th Ashwin of Bengali month on the streets of Kolkata under the leadership of Rabindranath. However, the raksha Bandha in the Bengali month of Shraban has nothing to do with this raksha Bandhan. The main purpose of this Raksha Bandhan was humanity, harmony and unity.

5.What we have learned from Raksha Bandhan and it's importance in our present Day:
The time we are going through now is very tough and in this tough time the festivals like Raksha Bandhan is very much needed. In order to preserve the tradition, the brotherhood and the communal harmony of India we should follow the path of Rabindranath Tagore, the greatest poet of Bengal and as well as India.I wish you a very happy Raksha Bandhan.Be happy and wealthy...☺️😍