As we say that India is the country of Festivals. And Raksha Bandhan is a festival to celebrate the bond of love and affection between brothers & siblings with lots of love and happiness. In Gujarat, the festivals of “Pavitropana” is celebrated along with the Raksha bandhan or Rakhi. In that Women visit temple and worship lord shiva by flowers, holy water, bael, puja & aarti. It is such a bond that protect brother’s hand over the enemies , anger, drunkenness, jealousy etc.
Rakhi falls on poonam in month of Shravan. In Mahabharata as Queen Kunti tied a rakhi to Abhimanyu, during the battle. There are many instances in Puranas, in which mothers, sisters tying rakhi to give protections to their loves ones. As we know that Rakhi is not just the thread it a radical changes in the brother’s vision , that they accepts the responsibility of protecting his sister, so that the can move fearlessly in the society.
On Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan day, sister prepares pooja thali in that they keep kumkum, chawal, rakhi, and aarati.
Then applies kumkum and chawal, which is called “chokha” in Gujarati, on the forehead of her brother. Keep fresh sweets kesar penda, barfi, soan papadi; mohanthal and many more sweets. Then sister or sisters ties rakhi around the right wrist of her brother and prays and wishes for his safety and well-being. In Gujarati communities, sister also ties rakhi to sister-in-law which is called “Challa”. At times, siblings also prefer to go out for movie and take lunch or dinner together. Siblings also enjoy Raksha Bandhan with special songs & Garba that provide healthy nourishment to their minds, hearts, and souls for the whole year. Whole family celebrate Rakhi with passion and enthusiasm.
In Gujarat, Raksha Bandhan is also called as:
- Shravana Purnima
- Nariyal Purnima
- Balev
Shravana Purnima
Shravana Purnima is specially famous for Raksha Bandhan .Many rituals and other festivals celebrated on the full moon day of shravana. It is important to the community of Brahimins., Specially on this day Brahmins perform rituals of replacing Janoi in the bank rivers with pujas and mantras. On this day, Boys changed their Janoi. As this Janoi needs to be changed every year. As this is very important or auspicious day in a year, everyone followed their rituals.
Nariyal Purnima
On this day, Coconuts are thrown into the sea as a rituals. The word Nariyal means coconut and the word Purnima is for full moon. It is great importance for the fishermen community as it marks the beginning of a new year for them and end of the monsoon season. so says that It is the end of the rains and beginning of the fishing and the water-trade.
They offer Coconuts to Lord Varuna, the sea- God people also worship the sea and offers prayers so that the God keeps them safe while they are out in the sea, fishing .As same as Rakhi stands for the celebration of emotions and also for knot of protection.
Balev
On the festivals of Balev or Raksha Bandhan, the Brahmins change their sacred threads. On the same day Sisters tie Rakshi on brother’s wrist. The word Balev is a Sanskrit words Bali and Eva. Bali means sacrifice and eva means the way. As we follow the mythological story about the King Bali and the Goddess Lakshmi.
Finally, on the day of Shravana Purnima, Goddess Lakshmi tied a thread of cotton on Bali’s wrist and prayed for his protection and happiness. Hence, Balev is the spirit of the festival that sacrifice and devotion to the Lord. As Rakhi is protection against all the evil energies of the Whole Universe.
