Rakshabandhan I
Rakshabandhan is a festival celebrated in India,
To commemorate the love between brothers and sisters.
On this day sisters tie a Rakhi ( a band made with raw cotton thread and decorated with some trinkets),
on their brothers’ hands expressing their love for them.
In return brothers give them a gift expressing their love, support and protection for their sisters.
The most notable occasion using the power of this sentiment is the Rakhi sent by a widow Hindu Rani Karunavati of Chittor to Muslim Mughal ruler Himayun, accepting him as his brother and asking for his protection against the invading army of Bahadurshah, the ruler of Gujrat.
Himayun was so touched with the gesture that he sent his army to Chittor to defend Rani Karunavati.
Though he was late, and could not defend Chittor or save Rani from performing Jouhar,
Himayun still honored the tradition of Rakhi by winning
Chittour back and coronating Rani’s son as king of Chittour.
The story is a beautiful example of power of human emotions that can never be underestimated no matter how much we counsel ourself using intellect and reason as our guiding light.
There is something overpowering about these universal emotions of love and compassion and also of courage, and honour defying the religious, cultural, and political boundaries.
It binds us to each other the way reason can never do.
It is for us to cultivate and protect these nurturing emotions within us and towards each other.
Rakshabandhan II
Today is Rakshabandhan.
It’s been a long time since I have been living abroad.
Few times I have been home for the occasion of Rakshabandhan.
Mostly it has been Rakhi mailed with best wishes.
The modern technology of phone, FaceTime, Facebook, etc. gives us a chance to send all brothers my best wishes.
However I believe there is another virtual world besides the one brought to us from new tech.
That is the world of our hearts and minds.
This mysterious world that goes deeper to connect us universally.
Through dreams or some other psychic experiences, miraculously it brings us together with our loved ones from past or present. There is no better joy than this, when it happens unexpectedly and effortlessly.
Wishing you all love and peace.
Savita Tyagi
8. 9. 2025
