NewZNew (Feature) : Raksha Bandhan (रक्षा बन्धन) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters; the festival is also popularly used to celebrate any brother-sister relationship between men and women who are relatives or biologically unrelated.  It is called Rakhi Purnima, or simply Rakhi, in many parts of India. The festival is observed by Hindus, Jains, and many Sikhs.  Raksha Bandhan is primarily observed in India, Mauritius and parts of Nepal. It is also celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in parts of Pakistan,  and by some people of Indian origin around the world.

Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival, and has many myths and historic legends linked to it. For example, the Rajput queens practised the custom of sending rakhi threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood. On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother’s wrist. This symbolizes the sister’s love and prayers for her brother’s well-being, and the brother’s lifelong vow to protect her. The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar.

Sudeepa Singh who essays pivotal roles in SAB TV’s Baal Veer as Rani Pari and Comedy Superstar as a host for the show

My brother is very shy and he does lot of things for me without even telling me, and I feel that Rakshabandhan is a beautiful day to say thank you to my brother, being a Punjabi brother they are over protective and as compare to girls, men are usually shy to express their love, so this is the day that makes the sister and brother relationship special. My brother and I have a gap of almost 7 years and as a kid I used to pray to god to give me a brother as I am the eldest , I so always take my brother as a blessing.

Rupali Bhosale as Varsha Ghotala in SAB TV’s BadiDooooor Se Aaye Hain

RakshaBandhan is one of the most important festivals for me considering the fact that I get extra love from my brother that day. But somehow somewhere I feel that it’s not just the brother who is supposed to be responsible, it’s important for it to be vice versa. I was there for my brother during his tough times when he had met with a serious accident. And for me my brother means the world to me and I would never want anything wrong to happen to him, and this year I’ll be meeting my brother before I leave for my shoot and we will have the traditional ceremony of Rakshabandhan where I will tie a Rakhi for my brother specially selected for him by me and I would make sure he never takes it off.

Shafaaq Naaz as Mayuri in SAB TV’s ChidiyaGhar

Rakshabandhan is a festival that my sister and I have been celebrating for quiet some years now. It’s been a special occasion for us in our life as we get to have a small rakshabandhan ceremony at our house with our younger brother. Rakshabandhan known for the significance of the brother to take care of his sisters is something that my brother even though being younger than us takes it very seriously. He has always been protective about me and my sister and we love him a lot.

Bhaktiyaar Irani as Ronnie in SAB TV’s BadiDooooor Se Aaye Hain

We celebrate Rakshabandhan every year where Delnaaz whom I call Delu comes home and she ties a Rakhi and eats. I really love my sister a lot and I don’t need a special day to tell people don’t mess with my family, they know it. One of my favourite dialogues from Amitabh Bachan’s movie Agneepath says it all for me – “Ab kissi haram zaadeko bolo merimaako, yameribehenkehaathlagakedeekhay, kaatkerakhdega”