Promoting togetherness
RAKSHA Bandhan, the Hindu festival to be observed on Sunday, is a celebration of togetherness, of being one family.
On the morning of Raksha Bandhan, a pooja (prayer) is performed by both male and female members of the home.
A pooja thali (plate) with a diya (lamp), roli (red paste), a rakhi thread and sweetmeat are offered to the Lord, appealing for his blessings.
The sister then ties the rakhi on her brother’s wrist and wishes for his happiness and well-being. In turn, the brother acknowledges his love with a promise to stand by his sister at all times.
The rakhi is tied on the wrist of the brother with the chanting of appropriate mantras. Rakhi or raksha sutra is the raw cotton, coloured or white, tied around the wrist of devotees participating in worship.
Every time we see this thread, it should remind us of this prayer/appeal for protection and it should remind us of God.
When we think of God, there is no opportunity to engage in impure/sinful activities, and this (avoiding wrong activities) is our protection.
As part of our prayer procedures, there is always a “raksha/viddhi/kawach” that is meant to afford the devotee special protection from various forms of calamities or dangers, as well as from incorrect thoughts, which in turn lead to incorrect actions.
Having asked God for protection (the best or highest protection), there is no reason for despair and losing hope. Therefore, this thread should remind us that we have the best possible protection and it gives us hope – preventing despair, depression, suicides.
According to the Viddhi, a combination of ingredients creates the correct “formula”, which contributes to the possible success of the appeal the devotee is making.
The practice has been that this thread, irrespective of the colour, is added to these ingredients, while the respective mantras are chanted.
Any appeal to God must be accompanied by effort on our part (we must alllow God to fulfil our appeals by creating the right environment). Our effort creates this environment.
In South Africa, Raksha Bandhan continues to be celebrated with the same traditions. However, as our means have changed, the celebration has become more elaborate.
This is indeed a good day as it pulls siblings together. All brothers and sisters try to reach out to each other on this auspicious day.
Let us embrace the message of the Raksha Bandhan and create a feeling of goodwill and sisterhood with all South Africans. Let us pledge on this Raksha Bandhan day to make South Africa a Vasudeiva Kutumbakam – one large family.