The Festival of Raksha Bandhan

Over time, the present era has ‘modernized’ and limited Raksha Bandhan festival to honoring relationships within the nuclear family, where sisters tie the sacred thread, the rakhi, around the wrist of their brothers to honor and protect them, and pray for their well-being and safety. The brother, in turn, promises to protect the dignity and honor of the sister and the family. The customs and lessons demonstrated in this special annual celebration have kept the family functional and united. Family members remain close knit as it encourages bonding, respect, caring, trust and love amongst them. 

Raksha Bandhan is the memorial of when we originally focused on having an unlimited spiritual, loving relationship with God that nurtured, protected, uplifted, united us and created a heavenly world. Having forgotten our eternal identity of being a spark of divine energy, a soul, a being of sparkling light, we became entangled in the bondage of physical matter, 'body consciousness'. We forgot to see ourselves as souls with a body and not just a body with a brain! Lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego overpowered and influenced us to perform wrong actions, causing increasing sorrow. 

With the re-emergence of Godly knowledge of 'soul consciousness' we now have a deeper spiritual global understanding of Raksha Bandhan. Positive change happens with spiritual study and training including the daily practice of meditation to channel our thoughts in a positive direction to put a full stop to wasteful and negative thoughts. Our vision is broadened beyond the boundaries of our own family to the entire earth as one family, children of God under the Fatherhood of God. We practice extending pure soul conscious love to everyone. This purity of mind removes fear and brings happiness, wisdom and the power to keep on giving. Everyday we can connect to God and have a ‘spiritual rakhi’ tied to ensure our protection and safety. My positive attitude and actions ensure that I receive both God's blessings and good wishes from all souls. These work as my protection and stay with me forever.

The Supreme Father is bound to look after us when we are 'soul conscious'. Now in these uncertain times of potential and possibly deadly changes, God the Father, is surrounding and tying all his loving spiritual children with an 'unlimited rakhi'. He is protecting us within this bond of His golden loving threads of Light and Might. Over 100 countries and all religions value and honor this festival occurring this year on August 9, 2025.

Sister Chirya is a student and teacher with     
the Brahma Kumari's World Spiritual University     
for over 40 years. She is published globally.