Paragraph: Janmashtmi, Raksha Bandhan
Answers
Answer:
Janmashtami ....., the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in India in the month of July or August. According to the Hindu calendar this religious festival is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksh or the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadon.
Sri Krishna is considered as the one of the most powerful human incarnations of the Lord Vishnu. He was born around 5,200 years ago in Mathura. The sole objective of Sri Krishna's birth was to free the Earth from the evilness of demons. He played an important role in Mahabharata and propagated the theory of bhakti and good karma which are narrated deeply in the Bhagwat Geeta.
Sri Krishna was born in a prison in the custody of Kansa. Vasudev, His father immediately thought of his friend Nand and decided to hand over his child to him to save Krishna from the clutch of Kansa. Krishna grew up in Gokul and finally killed his uncle, King Kansa.
The actual celebration of Janmashtami takes place during the midnight as Sri Krishna is believed to be borned on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and violence of his uncle, Kansa. All over India this day is celebrated with devotional songs and dances, pujas, arti, blowing of the Conch and rocking the cradle of baby Sri Krishna.
The Janmashtami celebration of Mathura and Vrindavan, the places where Sri Krishna had spent his life, are very special. On this day temples and homes are wonderfully decorated and illuminated. Night long prayers are offered and religious mantras are sung in the temples.
Raksha Bandhan is the famous Hindu festival of celebrating eternal love between siblings. The bond of affection between sisters and brothers is celebrated with a thread of love, care, and promises.
Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is the holy occasion of celebrating the bond between sisters and brothers.
On this day, sisters tie a thread or Rakhi on the wrist of their brothers. In return, brothers present gifts to their sisters with a pledge of protecting them like a shield from all the odds of the world.
Sisters pray for the long life of their beloved brothers. The thread also carries a bond which is based upon the loving relation of brothers and sisters, with the motto of sharing responsibilities
The beautiful relation between brothers and sisters is celebrated in this pious fest of Raksha Bandhan.
Raksha Bandhan tells the loving relationship between brothers and sisters. No matter, they are quarrelsome with each other but their relation is unique.
Raksha Bandhan is made up of two words Raksha i.e. protection and Bandhan i.e. tying, so it means tying a knot of protection.
Raksha Bandhan is also called as ‘Rakhi Purnima’, as it falls on the full moon day. In Hindu Calendar Rakhi falls on “Shravan Purnima”, in English Calendar the month of Shravan/Sawan is the Seventh or Eighth month of the year.
In this festival, sister lits a lamp for his brother, feed him sweets and apply ‘Tilak’ on his forehead and then ties a Rakhi/Thread on his wrist. This whole ritual is performed on the holy muhurta of tying Rakhi. Sisters usually fast before tying Rakhi.
Once Lord Krishna got a cut in his finger by his Sudarshan Chakra, then Princess Draupadi tied a knot on his cut from the border of her Saree as a cure. Lord Krishna then promised her to protect her from every harsh scenario; she will face in the future. In Bhavishya Purana this knot was considered as the origin of the custom of Rakhi.
Some other religious facts say that Goddess Lakshmi once sent a thread to ruler Bali for reliving her companion (Lord Vishnu). After receiving the thread Bali felt that he is liable to the goddess and he asked Lord Vishnu for returning to Vaikuntha.