| RAKSHA BANDHAN
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The Rituals :
As is the case with any other festival, the
day starts off with a traditional head bath. The sisters fast and perform aarti (the
ritual of lighting the camphor) to their brothers, apply tilak on their foreheads
praying for the well being and prosperity of their brothers. They then tie the Rakhi on to
the right wrists of the brothers and make them take a bite of some sweets.
It is customary on the part of the brothers
too, to gift some money or valuables to their sisters. While the sisters fast till the
ritual is finished, the brother and sister then have lunch together. It also is a practice
of this lunch being in the house of the sister. The ritual of Rakhi thus signifies the
duty of the strong to protect the weaker under all circumstances.
The day is also celebrated as "Jandhyala
Pournami" by the Brahmins across the country. The day is rendered auspicious to
change their Yagnyopaveetha or Jandhyam after a pooja. The day also once marked the start
of the veda lessons in sravan nakshatram that concluded after four and a half months as
ordained by Manu.
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