Holy festivities: Raksha Bandhan to be celebrated today

KARACHI: The Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, which is celebrated to cherish the bond between sisters and brothers, will be held on Sunday (today). The festival, in which a sister ties a thread (rakhi) around her brother’s wrist, who in return gives her gifts or money, is traced back to the Hindu tradition where Goddess Laxmi, wife of Lord Vishnu, tied a rakhi to King Bali and asked him to be united with her husband. The main celebrations in the city will take place at the Laxmi Narayan Mandir near Native Jetty Bridge, where Hindu devotees will assemble and pray to their gods. In the courtyard of the temple, the girls praying for their brothers’ long life will be tying the thread, while the brothers will vow to protect their sisters. The two will then feed mithai and other sweets to one another. “Sisters should pray for their brothers’ health and success as their prayers are truly answered on this day,” said Pakistan Hindu Council chief patron Dr Ramesh Kumar. Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2014.