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Raksha Bandhan is on
Wednesday 9 August 2006. Raksha means 'protection' and Bandhan
means 'bond'. Raksha-bandhan is a bond of protection. This
festival is more popular in northern India. Legend says that Indrani,
the wife of Indra, started the practice of tying a rakhi. When the
gods suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of the demons and Indra
lost his kingdom, Indrani, following Vishnu's advice, prepared a
charm as prescribed by the sacred texts and tied the thread around
Indra's wrist. Indra easily defeated the demons by virtue of this
thread and won back his kingdom. Tying a rakhi signifies the obligation
of the strong to protect the weak. History records many instances
of Hindu queens sending rakhis to Muslim kings to seek their help.
Despite their differing faiths, the kings invariably provided help
and honoured the significance of rakshabandhan as a tie of protection.
Raksha Bandhan is a day for feasting. Sweets of all kinds, mainly
Laddoos, Jalebis, Barfi, Balushai, Gulab Jamuns and Rasgullas are
the favourites.
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