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The tradition associated with the festival of Rakhi shows the aspects of protection given by brothers to their sisters. Raksha Bandhan preparations include buying beautiful rakhis,sweets, decorative thalis etc, a few days before Rakhi.
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On the day of Rakhi all the sisters and brothers get up early in the morning. They wear new clothes and get ready for their special festival. Sisters decorate a “Thali” especially for this occasion. They keep all the necessary items like the Tilak, rice grains for Tilak, a Diya, sweets and the rakhi in that beautifully decorated thali. First of all the sisters put Tilak on the forehead of their brother and then stick some rice to that Tilak. They then perform the Aarti and tie the rakhi on the wrist of their brother’s hand.
After tying the rakhi thread, the sisters sweeten the mouth of their brothers with sweets. Then its brothers turn to give some rakhi gifts for their sisters. These gifts can be either in cash or in kind. At times even sisters can give return rakhi gifts to their brothers.
In Southern India, the festival of Raksha Bandhan is called Avani Avittam. The day is marked by wearing a holy thread by Hindu Brahmins and offering libations of water to the ancient rishi. Thus the rakhi festival celebrates the emotions of a human being and reflects the joy and zeal of the sacred bond shared between a brother and his sister.
Thus on the festive occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the brothers and sisters wish long happy life, success, prosperity and great health to each other. They also seek the blessings of their parents and other elderly people in their family. After that they go to their relatives place and exchange greetings with them.
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