Rakhi Parva Being Celebrated In Madhes Rakhi festival is being celebrated on various days including Mahottari of Madhes. This festival is called ‘Rakhi’ here in the tradition of sisters tying Rakshasutra (string, thread) on the wrist of the right hand on the day of the full moon day of Saun Purnima.
According to the priest, this year’s Rakhi Parva should be held afternoon. Purohit Mahesh Kumar Jha of Bardibas-2 said that since the first 19 hours of 45 hours of the 47 hours of today’s Purnima Tithi have been bhadra karana, they should be cut and tied. Half of a date in the lunar month is called Karana. He made it clear that out of the total 11 Karanas, Bhadra’s Bhoga Bhogar has been forbidden by the scriptures, so it should be cut off and celebrated today. Jha clarified that since Bhadra Karan’s Bhog will last till 1:31 pm, that time should be cut off and Rakhi tied.
Brothers living far away have returned home to accept the invitation to tie their sister’s rakhi for the festival. In Mithila, this festival is celebrated by married sisters in their own homes or relatives according to convenience. As the unmarried girl owns the house with her brothers, they are preparing for the festival at home. The parents of the house help in the preparation of the festival for the little ones.
In all areas of Mithila today, songs reflecting love, harmony, and dedication to each other are echoing between brothers and sisters. This festival has become an integral part of the folk culture in Mithila. Kumar Ghimire, headmaster of Deurali Secondary School located in Bardibas-1, says that this festival of Hindu Maithil tradition has now become equally popular among Hindus and all religious communities. With the hustle and bustle of Rakhi Parva everywhere, the bazaar activity has increased rapidly in the entire Mithila region. Preparations for this festival can be seen with the start of Shukla Paksha in Mithila.
During the festival, sisters tie rakhi and after serving dessert, brothers give clothes, jewelry, and cash to Dakshina Cheli. Intellectuals here say that Rakhi was established as a part of the Rakshabandhan festival of Sanatan Hindu tradition. During the Raksha Bandhan festival, there is a tradition of tying the dora of the guru to the disciple and the host. But the main attraction of the festival in Mithila is the rakhi tied by the sisters, said Leelanath Gautam, a teacher of Nepali language and literature at Secondary School Bhangaha-5, Sitapur, Siddhapur.
It is believed that in the Satya Yuga, the deity who was defeated by the demon King Bali, who is the ruler of the three worlds (Swarga, Matrya, and Patal), was blessed by Lord Vrihaspati to be as strong as the sacrifice, and tied the cord (Rakshakavac, Rakshasutra) recommended by the scriptural method. In another incident related to this, before going to war Bali’s sisters Ganga and Yamuna tied Raksha Bandhan (protective shield) on their hands, wishing for victory, and in memory of Bali’s victory in that war, there is a tradition in this area that sisters pray for the solar growth of their brothers and tie it every year on the full moon day.
