In India, Raksha Bandhan
is one of the most important festivals; celebrated during the month of August. The
day is usually the full moon day of the Hindu month Shravan. It is a special
occasion to celebrate the emotional bond of love between a brother and a sister,
by tying a holy thread called ‘Rakhi’ around the right wrist of the brother. It
signifies that the strong must protect the weak from all that’s evil. There are
so many popular historical and mythological stories are behind this festival;
but today, I want to share a quite unknown story of Raksha Bandhan.
It was July 1905. Lord
Curzon, the contemporaneous Viceroy of India, announced the Partition of
Bengal. As details of the plan became public knowledge, prominent Bengalis
began a series of demonstrations against partition and a boycott of British
products. At that time, the Indian first Nobel Laureate for literature, Rabindranath
Tagore took initiative to take the British Emperor back their decision. They
wanted to break the unity of Hindus and Muslims in during India's colonial era.
Rabindranath Tagore used the idea of Raksha Bandhan to spread the feeling of
brotherhood. He arranged a ceremony to celebrate Raksha Bandhan to strengthen
the bond of love and togetherness between Hindus and Muslims of Bengal, and
urge them to protest the British Empire together. He composed a poem titled
"Rakhi" and marched through Calcutta with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and
Aurobindo Ghosh for a holy mass dip in the Ganges. They tied rakhi to people's
hands as a symbol of the unbreakable unity of Bengal. In certain parts of India,
especially to the east, Hindus and Muslims tie rakhis to each other to promote
communal harmony.
Unfortunately, all the
efforts were unsuccessful; But, the Rakhi Mahotsavas, started by Rabindranath Tagore
remain as a symbol of Bengal unity, and as a larger community festival of
harmony. In parts of West Bengal, his tradition continues as people tie rakhis
not only to brothers, as well as to their neighbors and close friends.
This year, Rakhi Bandhan festival falls on 7th
August; and 22 Shravan according to Bengali calendar, which is
the death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. I salute this great soul from the
core of my heart.
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