Raksha Bandhan celebration started tens of thousands of years ago. Bhavishya Puran cites a story that the devas once battled with the danavas (demons) for twelve years. The devas were losing, so Indra’s wife Shachi tied a sacred thread (raksha) on his wrist, blessed by Lord Vishnu, which gave him the power to ultimately defeat the demons.
Today, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as a festival of the bond between brothers and sisters. A sister ties a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother’s wrist, symbolising her love and prayers for his wellbeing. The brother in return pledges his lifelong protection and offers gifts.
In a broader spiritual sense, Raksha Bandhan can be observed between any two individuals where one offers protection to another. In temples, priests tie rakhis on devotees, and devotees tie rakhis on the deities as an expression of their bond with God.
In the Swaminarayan Sampraday, Raksha Bandhan is particularly significant as it also marks the end of the Shravan month and is celebrated with special puja and devotional programmes at the Mandir.