Today is the festival of "Rakhi" which stands for the more descriptive Raksha Bandhan, translated literally to mean the "Bond of Protection." Like many other Indian festivals, the event is marked by the phase of the moon, rather than a specific date on the calendar. It is celebrated during the full moon of the monsoon month of Shravan which is usually in the first half of August. The occasion of Rakhi does not point to a firm religious root although there are apocryphal tales of Hindu mythology associated with it. It commemorates the bonds between brothers and sisters and is signified by the sister tying a colorful thread around the brother’s wrist with a promise of love. The brother traditionally was required to promise the sister love and protection from harm. In modern times, the protection from harm has been replaced by gifts, usually in the form of money.
Rakhi is a popular Indian festival, mostly in north India. Also it is not restricted to siblings by birth. Any girl or woman can choose to tie a Rakhi around the wrist of a boy or a man to indicate familial, as opposed to romantic love. And the male is required to reciprocate in kind. The simple colorful thread in many cases, especially among younger children, has been replaced by more elaborate ornamentations which often follow modern trends popularized by movies, comic books and even action figures. There is a thriving market for Rakhi paraphernalia, including Hall Mark style greeting cards.
Here are some pictorial depictions from a Rakhi image gallery in the following order.
1.A sister tying a Rakhi on her brother. 2. A plate full of items required to fete the brother (the brother is also offered his favorite foods). 3. A Rakhi with a decorative medallion.
Accidental Blogger 
