2S
Techie. Writer. Photographer.
August 28, 2007 at 3:09 pm
· Filed under religion
There still is speculation as to the real origins of the festival of Raksha Bandhan, or simply Rakhi - which is today. The most common (and popular) one dates back to the epic Mahabharata, where Draupadi tears a piece of silk off her sari and wraps it around Krishna’s wrist to stop the flow of blood. Krishna, moved by incident, vows to protect her in return. Which he did, by elongating her sari, preventing the Kauravas from disrobing her. But is it a Hindu festival? Yes and no. Yes, because hey - it’s so tightly coupled with Hindu teachings. No, because the Sikhs celebrate it too, in spite of acknowledging it as a pagan practice. As do many other people, yes - Muslims and Parsis inclusive. Because, in case you’re wondering, ours is a secular nation, and it is inevitable that harmless religious practices find themselves overlapping across other faiths.
So when I looked at this rediff interview, and more importantly, at one of the comments at the end which suggests that the Rakhi is un-Islamic, I had the same reaction that you might have - what the heck?
Just in case that comment gets written off as abuse, these are the exact words: ‘Rakhi is forbidden in Islam. Be careful. Some mulla may issue fatwa.’
Many ‘learned’ Muslims who think they know the religion have rubbished Raksha-Bandhan as a pagan practice. As far as Islam goes, there are sins - minor and ruinous. And I find it extremely difficult to believe that tying cloth around the wrist of a brother can lead to a fatwa. It’s not about the cloth in any case - yours truly is not a fan of blind religious practices - but the meaning behind it has merit.
Maybe the comment was a joke, but it sure as hell isn’t funny. I hope these extremists, blinded by what they believe in, realise that we live in a different world. No one is asking them to move towards apostasy. A rather inspiring conversation with a friend last night introduced me to a suggestion he made for those who are firmly rooted in their religion: ‘Move forward within your religion’. A bit of broad-mindedness in a secular nation won’t do harm, and will work wonders for the attitude.
Incidentally, today is also 15 Shaban - Shab-e-Barat. Muslims around the world believe that on this night God writes the destinies of His people considering their past deeds, and hence holds importance. They pray for forgiveness of their sins, while they celebrate the festival at night. In this nation, sweet vermicelli is as common a sight today in a Muslim’s house, as rakhis are in a Hindu’s house.
There is this little apartment in India where, today, you’d find both. You’ll find a Muslim woman ringing up her brother, and all forty-nine years of her bonding with her brother will unite when she mumbles ‘tumna happy rakhi, bhaiyya’ in Deccan Urdu. This little apartment celebrates every festival from every religion as if it were its own. In this little apartment, the poor are fed till they drop dead in remembrance of the elders every Shab-e-Barat. The madrasa receives a donation every Ramadan. The diyas are lit every Diwali night. The sisters send in their Rakhis ever year, some in anticipation of a return gift, often monetary. In this house, traditional puliyodurai is cooked on Hindu festivals with the same enthusiasm as the finest quality of mutton biryani is cooked during a Muslim festival. This house rarely leaves out the eggs on Easter or the avial on Onam.
This house sends a message: that let there be no mistake, it has absolutely no time and effort to waste on creating differences. It just wants to live and let live. Everyone who sets foot in this house is treated equally, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. This house dreams, every single day, of prospering in a world and in an India of religious harmony, the one thing that can truly unite against all forces of damage.
This is my home.
And you know what? I love it here.
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[…] Crossposted […]
Most traditions have a common root. Most traditions are also lost in time. The common thread (no pun intended) is that all roads lead to one. Given the fact that we’ve got so many different practices and faiths - the roads that lead to the One are many in number.
It isn’t your mark or colour or tone or outlook that determines whether or not you’re superior. If you can spread the message of love, then that’s what your Religion is. If love is the dogma then swim blindly in the doctrines we will.
Well written brother. One of the most touching posts ever. The differences aren’t worth it. It’s love that matters.
Avin wrote @ August 28th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Never thought this day would come but bravo boy!! Finally something that you have written completely agree with. Our relationships with the people we love transcends religion.
amreen wrote @ August 28th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
gud article….
ppl should removed their blinkers n look at the world - wide angle! its beautiful… if u give urself n others a chance
Kay wrote @ August 28th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Incedentally Rakhi was not traditionally a brother and sister festival and the tiny thread symobolised Rakhsa or “SAFETY”. The sages tied the sacred thread to themselves to safe guard them from the evil. It is by all means the ‘Papa Todak, Punya Pradayak Parva’ or the day that bestows boons and end all sins as it is mentioned in the scriptures. { Isn’t that what the Islam says too??}
For many centuries that tiny thread bound siblings but now it goes way beyond it. Some tie rakhi to neighbors and close friends signifying a peaceful co-existence of every individual. Congregations like Rakhi Utsavs, popularized by Rabindranath Tagore, promote the feeling of unity and a commitment to all members of society to protect each other and encourage a harmonious Social life.
The day has a deeper perspective in today’s scenario. The occasion holds for a life long pledge to practice moral, spiritual and cultural values. The values and the sentiments attached to the rituals of this festival are worth inculcating by the whole human race, the sentiments of harmony and peaceful coexistence.
Raksha Bandhan assumes all forms of Raksha or protection, of righteousness and destroyer of all sin. The rakhi tying ritual has become so much a part of the families that come what may brothers and sisters try to reach out to each other on this particular day bringing back the oneness of the family, binding the family together in an emotional bond. ( Copied and pasted)
{…and celebration of this festival is just to show that we all are tied to each other with that thread called “Humanity”…}
Kay wrote @ August 28th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
I just came back from a school that we run for 150 “Juang” girl children which is kilometers away from any near habitation. Specially, when you see the world from their perspective, every religion melts away and the only one that’s left behind is “humanity”. For their families life is very simple( pun fully intended) and their worst fear isn’t fundamentalism in religion but the strife to get ONE square meal a day for themselves.
When we crib and fight and fundamentalism gives way to intolerance, we forget there are people for whom all gods have maybe closed their eyes with the hope that his GREATER children will lend a hand…
As always..Sandil, it’s wonderfully written.
India is a melting pot where things have not melded together for centuries. It is for people like you to take a bold step and see if we can reach and have some degree of harmony. Gandhi was such a man but alas there we have lost sight of our role models in this mad rush towards “Progress” and “Prosperity”
sanjukta wrote @ August 30th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Grt post Sandil…Salaam to that home.
yeah.. religious liberalism.. now we could all use some of it.. Reading this article has kinda spurred of an idea that I can use in my blog.. thanks dude..
Gyan Guru wrote @ September 5th, 2007 at 12:58 am
Great post man!!! Salaam Namaste to every home which believes in this spirit. We definitely need more such homes in this world.
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