New Delhi, Aug 2 (IBNS): After a long wait of one year, brothers and sisters across India are celebrating Rakhi, the festival of love and affection on Thursday.
The Rakhi festival, which is also known as Raksha Bandhan, celebrates the sweet relationship between a brother and his sister.
Interestingly, the festival is celebrated by multiple religious communities like Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims all over the world.
The rakhi ceremony involves the tying of a rakhi (sacred thread) by a sister on her brother's wrist that symbolizes her love and prayers for her brother's good health and prosperity. On the other hand the brother takes the lifelong vow to protect her.
The festival is celebrated on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu calendar.
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday greeted people on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan which will be celebrated on Thursday.
“On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my greetings and good wishes to my fellow citizens in India and abroad," Mukherjee said in his message.
"Raksha Bandhan is the celebration of the unique relationship that exists between brothers and sisters. The tying of a Rakhi by a sister symbolizes love, affection and mutual trust between sisters and brothers.
"May the spirit of this festival strengthen fraternal feelings in our society, and remind us of the importance of unity and harmony, as we strive collectively for the well-being of our people,” he said.
Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on Wednesday extended his greetings and good wishes to the citizens of India on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan to be celebrated on Thursday.
In his message, Ansari said that Raksha Bandhan signifies the protective bond between brothers and sisters and the celebration of this festival plays an important role in spreading the message of unity and harmony in our society.
“I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to the citizens of our country on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan," said Ansari in his message.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has greeted the nation on the joyous occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
In a message, the Prime Minister said that Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrated to strengthen the bonds of love and affection in our family and society.
"We should use this occasion to promote peace, harmony and brotherhood in our country," Singh said.
Like all other festivals, food marks a special part of this occasion and on this date multiple delicious cuisines are prepared in the households.
From delicious sweets like 'laddu' (sweet balls), rabri (sweet) , 'kheer' to 'puris' and 'kachauris', the sister prepares varieties of foods to serve his brother.
The brothers are generally seen wearing beautiful traditional dresses like 'kurta' or 'punjabi' while sisters wear 'sarees' on this date.
After the ceremony of tying a rakhi on the hand of the brother is done, the borther gives a gift to his sister as a blessing.
From watch to chocolates, the brother tries to gift her sister anything she likes.
Keeping this beautiful festival in mind several companies offer multiple offers and discounts during this period to suit the occasion.
Express air and integrated transportation, distribution and logistics company Blue Dart, and DHL, leading logistics company have announced the launch of their unique customized service - ‘Rakhi Express’.
With people increasingly moving away to other cities to pursue education and careers, Raksha Bandhan is a time when dear ones are missed.
Blue Dart and DHL’s ‘Rakhi Express’ helps siblings bridge this gap while ensuring secure and timely delivery of the ‘Rakhi’ anywhere in the country and internationally.
This exclusive service is available at all Blue Dart-DHL retail outlets.
TCI XPS, the express delivery service division of TCI (Transport Corporation of India Ltd.) is offering the Anmol Rakhi service. The special service by XPS will enable one to send a Rakhi to her brother, anywhere in India and abroad, within 48 hours.
The offer includes, a “Designer Rakhi” in an intricately handcrafted wooden box, packed in a gift pack and hand-delivered at the brother’s doorstep.
Gifts play a key role in the festival and brothers could give their sisters beauty products from Aroma Magic like 'Mineral Glow Scrub', 'Beauty Pack' and 'Beautiful Skin Oil'.
Chocolates are considered to be one of the best gifts in any occasion and several companies have introduced special offers on Rakhi.
Chokola, known for its delectable chocolates, have announced their ‘Chokola Rahki’ for the Rakhsha Bandhan.
Premium chocolate brand Patchi has brought special collection on this auspicious Raksha Bandhan.
To make this Raksha Bandhan truly special, Patchi has specially made skillfully decorated thalis with beautifully crafted adornments to hold the mandatory tilak and rice, with chocolates delightfully wrapped in silver and gold foils and embellished with festive decorations like Om,Ganpati, Swastik and adorned with beautiful rakhis in silk threads.
Celebrating this special occasion, www straightline.in, the online retail division of mjunction , has launches unique Rakhi special gifting range titled ‘Brothers are different and so should their gifts'.
The campaign offers a wide array of Rakhi Gifts for men through four dedicated categories– ‘Fashionable’, ‘Gadget-Freak’, ‘Sporty’ and ‘Foodie’ brothers, making it easier for the sensitive sister to choose the ideal gifts for her ‘Different’ brother.
Ferns N Petals knows the diverse shopping styles of its consumers. It is hence, that at one hand there are the easy and traditional Rakhi threads and on the other more complicated Rakhi Sets and favorable Rakhis as well.
www.Fnp.com is a gift shop that is not only offering the best Rakhi gifts but is also offering flowers, cakes, chocolates for any kind of occasion.
Meanwhile, several restaurants in Kolkata are offering special menus for Rakhi so that brothers and sisters could spend some memorable moments this year.
If you want to treat your sibling to a lip smacking Bengali lunch or dinner then Kolkata's 6 Ballygunge Place is offering special delicacies like Gondhoraj Chicken (Succulent strips of chicken, marinated & deep fried ), Fish Kabiraji, Chhanar Malai Curry , Dab Chingri(Prawns roasted inside a coconut),Bhapa Eelish, Tota Puli (Deep fried battons of khoya dipped in sugar syrup) or Chhanar Malpua.
The Wall is offering Pan Asian food. The restaurant is offering oriental delicacies.
One can also try the Chicken Satay or even the Dim Sums like Shu Mai or the Thai Chicken Red Curry.
Daawat – e – Shiraz offers Awadhi delicacies this year with Murg Biriyani, Murg Patiala or Murg Anjeer(Cubes of chicken and dry figs cooked in rich spices and brown onion) and Shahi Chand Ka tukra.
Park Pavilion is offering a global lunch buffet with items like Bhuna Ghost or Cilantro Fried Fish.
Vegetarians could choose from options like Exotic Vegetable with Chilli Soya Sauce, Spinach Corn Lasagne and many more.
Charcoal Grill celebrates the thread of love between siblings, offering wide range of seafoods, giving one a complete freedom to pick out a lobster, crab or a prawn.
The coastal picks include the scrumptious Squid Koliwada, Steamed Pomfret in lemon sauce, Fresh water Jumbo Prawns or Lobster, Steamed crab meat. The celebration will continue in Charcoal Grill from August 2-5.
