Celebrate Raksha Bandhan in your apartment
A fine-l
ooking surrounding with a cheerful bunch of siblings showering love towards each other midst colourful threads and sweets makes the occasion of Raksha Bandhan/Rakhi the best one. Raksha Bandhan, an Indian ethnic festival, is celebrated on a full moon day in the month of Sravan (August). It is a festival where brothers and sisters endorse their bonds of affection. The festival is normally celebrated by Hindus but has eventually been adopted by other cultures as well.
The legend of Raksha Bandhan:
Let us have a peek in to the legend and the characters that influence this festivity; since the festival is celebrated in the Sharavana month, it carries all the hues and shades of nature and emotions. This month is considered as a holy month by Hindus. There are various reasons for celebrating this month throughout the country. Reasons like showering love towards their siblings, Brahmins taking pledge of their rites and starting of the new monsoon season are attached to this event. The following legends are associated with the event;
The legend in the Bhavishya Puran
The legend of King Bali and Goddess Laxmi
The legend of Yama/Yamuna and the epic legend.
The importance of Raksha Bandhan:
Although Raksha Bandhan is considered to be celebrating the unique bond between a brother and a sister, it was not always the same. In the ancient times Rakhi was celebrated by even a wife, a daughter, a mother and sages. They tied a rakhi (colourful thread) for the safety of their dear ones. This day has a stronger perspective today and people pledge on this day to practise moral, spiritual and cultural values. It is also important that this festival should not be celebrated during the inauspicious period. Also at the time of tying a rakhi, it is important to keep the bhadra (inauspicious time) in mind. This inauspicious time will stay till afternoon and hence the rakhi should be tied only after the noon.
How to celebrate Raksha Bandhan in your apartment?
Invitations and organisation:
Every event requires a right place for the celebration and alongside suitable invitations should also be sent to the entire association. The apartment owners’ association can organise the event and invite all the people by sending invitation cards. The invitations can be distributed collectively so that the entire society will be aware of the celebration. Another option would be to organize the event not just for apartment members but for the entire street.
A Rakhi counter:
A rakhi counter can be installed in the apartment vicinity with colourful rakhis on display. You can also ask the members to make their own rakhis and sell it inside the apartment. Apart from just rakhis the counter can also have raksha bandhan greeting cards, sweets, attires, gifts and other necessary items.
A gift counter:
The society can pitch in money and buy gifts so that they can give the gifts away during the celebration. Apart from this, family members can also buy personal gifts and offer them to their guests.
Organise games and dance:
This is one of the most important part of any event or celebration. You can install speakers and form a dais for the dance and singing competition. This activity can be hosted in the form of a competition or just a celebration. A disc jockey and a mike comparer can be arranged for this event to make it more interesting.
Arrangement of the thali and the puja organisation:
A thali (platter) is the important requisite on this occasion as all sisters prepare this for the ritual. The puja thali consists of diya (lamp), roli (vermilion powder), chawal (rice), rakhi thread and sweets. Once the thali is ready, the ritual can begin with a prayer in front of the idol which can be placed in the selected place of the apartment. Placing just one idol makes the puja process easier for all sisters. Once the prayer is done, the sisters can tie the rakhi thread to their brothers. The same will be followed by the brother who promises his sister to stand by her in all the times. The sisters apply roli and put rice on their heads by tying the rakhi and chanting mantras. Gifts are exchanged by both the brother and the sister.
