Rakhri

Rakhri or Rakhrhee (Punjabi: ਰੱਖੜੀ) is the Punjabi word for Rakhi and a festival observed by Hindus and Sikhs.[1][2][3] In the Punjab region, the festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as Rakhrhya (Punjabi: ਰੱਖੜੀਆ).[4] Rakhrhya is observed on the same day of the lunar month of Sawan. It, like Raksha Bandhan, celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. Rakhri means “to protect” whereby a brother promises to look out for his sister and in return, a sister prays for the well being of her brother. According to Fedorak (2006), the festival of Rakhri celebrates "the bonds between brothers and sisters".[5] Married women often travel back to their natal homes for the occasion. [6]

Rakhrhya Punjabi: ਰੱਖੜੀਆ
Examples of Rakihrhya
Official nameRakhrhya
Also calledRakhar punya
Observed byHindus and Sikhs
DatePuniya (full moon) of Sawan ਸਾਵਨ ਪੁੰਨਿਆ
2019 dateThursday, August 15
2020 dateMonday, August 3

A Rakhri can also be tied on a cousin or an unrelated man. If a woman ties a Rakhri on the wrist of an unrelated man, their relationship is treated as any other brother and sister relationship would be. The festival is a siblings-day comparable to Mother's day/Father's day/Grandparents day etc.[7]

Celebration

A sister will tie the Rakhri on her brother's wrist and her brother will traditionally give his sister a gift in exchange. Another feature of the celebration is the consumption of sweets.[8] There is no special ceremony but a sister will sing folk songs[9] and say something along the lines of:

Punjabi:

ਸੂਰਜ ਛੱਡੀਆਂ ਰਿਸ਼ਮਾਂ
 ਮੂਲੀ ਛੱਡਿਆਂ ਬੀਅ
 ਭੈਣ ਨੇ ਬੰਨੀ ਰੱਖੜੀ
 ਜੁਗ ਜੁਗ ਵੀਰਾ ਜੀਅ
[10]

Transliteration:

Suraj chhadya rishma
mooli chhadya bi
bhain ne banni rahkhree
jug jug veera ji

See also

References
  1. Eleanor Nesbitt (2016) Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press
  2. Marian de Souza, Gloria Durka, Kathleen Engebretson, Robert Jackson, Andrew McGrad (2007) International Handbook of the Religious, Moral and Spiritual Dimensions in Education. Springer
  3. People of India: A - G., Volume 4 (1998) Oxford Univ. Press
  4. "Raksha bandhan is here!". The Hindu. 8 August 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  5. Fedorak, Shirley (2006) Windows on the World: Case Studies in Anthropology. Nelson.
  6. Hess, Linda (2015) Bodies of Song: Kabir Oral Traditions and Performative Worlds in North India. Oxford University Press
  7. "Articles - Siblings Day Foundation". Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  8. Kristen Haar, Sewa Singh Kalsi (2009) Sikhism
  9. Pande, Alka (1999) Folk Music & Musical Instruments of Punjab: From Mustard Fields to Disco Lights, Volume 1
  10. Alop ho riha Punjabi virsa - bhag dooja by Harkesh Singh Kehal Unistar Book PVT Ltd ISBN 978-93-5017-532-3


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