Raksha Bandhan 2021: Ways To Celebrate Rakhi Safely Amid Covid19

With the coronavirus in no mood to leave the country, this year again, many brothers and sisters won't be able to visit each other during the auspicious festival of Raksha Bandhan. Raksha Bandhan, popularly known as Rakhi is a festival celebrated by the Hindus, rejoicing sibling bond. Raksha Bandhan 2021 will be the second term of Rakhi in the phase of the Covid19 pandemic.

Even though the situation is better this year than the last year, most of the countrymen have got the 1st dose of vaccination, lockdown, and night curfew have been eased out at many places; still, the fear persists. With the predictions of the third wave of coronavirus knocking at the door, taking precautions is mandatory. But, no virus or its fear should wave out the excitement of celebrating this brother-sister relationship. With Raksha Bandhan on Sunday, 22^nd of August, we bring you ways to celebrate Rakhi while taking all covid precautions.

We all know that on the day of Raksha Bandhan, a sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist to save him from any mishappening, and the brother pledges to take care of her lifelong. Along with lifetime care, the brother offers gifts and sweets to the sister. Making the celebration more joyous, in some religions, even the sisters bring gifts and hampers for their brothers. Breaking the stereotype, now-a-days even sisters have started tying rakhi to each other, saying that they too take care of each other. This is a lovely gesture representing the change our society is undergoing.

Read below to know the Raksha Bandhan 2021 date, timing, muhurat, and ways to celebrate it with all pomp and show. But, before going into the details of Raksha Bandhan this year, do you know why this festival is celebrated?

Why do we Celebrate Raksha Bandhan?

The festival of Raksha Bandhan has its origin centuries back during the era of Lord Krishna. As per Mahabharata, one day, Lord Krishna had cut his finger while flying a kite. Seeing him hurt and blood running down his finger, Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, tore a piece of cloth from her saree and tied it to his finger. This gesture stopped the flowing blood but had deeply touched Krishnaji's heart. Being impressed with this unique gesture of hers, Lord Krishna accepted it as Raksha Sutra (rakhi) and promised to save her from all evils.

With Krishnaji's blessing, Draupadi's saree kept rolling endlessly when the Dushasana tried to disrespect/ disrobe her. This way Lord Krishna and Draupadi protected each other, and the festival of Raksha Bandhan emerged, which is celebrated till date in India and Nepal.

Raksha Bandhan 2021 Muhurat Tithi, Date: The Auspicious Time to Tie the Rakhi

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated during the month of Shravana on the day of a full moon, popularly known as the Purnima day. As per the panchang, this year Raksha Bandhan is on Sunday, 22^nd  of August, 2021.  The Purnima tithi begins at 7 pm on the 21^st of August and ends at 5:31 pm on the 22^nd of August. The Raksha Bandhan 2021 timing is from 6:15 am to 5:31 pm on the 22nd of August (11 hours 16 minutes). The most auspicious time to tie rakhi to your brother and sister-in-law is from 1:37 pm to 4:07 pm (2 hours 36 minutes). It is said that tying rakhi during this time phase of 2 hours 36 minutes will save your relationship from all evil.

Celebrate the Bond of Brother-Sisterhood

Whether you stay under the same roof or miles apart in different countries, Raksha Bandhan is a day that relishes all your childhood memories with your siblings. Visiting each other, this is a day when every brother and sister opens the bag of their memories, however old they may be. But, this year might be a bit different due to the increasing risk of Covid19. Thanks to digitalization that we will still be able to celebrate the bond of brother-sisterhood with full enthusiasm. Let’s see how to enjoy Rakhi with full precautions:

• Spend Time Together: If you are lucky to meet each other on the auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan, take an off and spend the day together. Luckily, Raksha Bandhan 2021 date is on a Eat delicious food, play games, watch movies, dance to your favorite songs, sing aloud just like you used to during your childhood, and have fun. Remember: No work, only fun!
• Pick Up Your Phone – Hello bhai! Staying in any corner of the world, your brother will be waiting for a call from you. What if you can’t visit him, your voice and prayers will surely reach him. Pick up your phone, dial his number and speak your heart out. Speaking your heart out can be a bit embarrassing as brother-sisters are famous for teasing and leg-pulling each other. To be on the safe side, send a sweet message greeting to him.
• Handmade Rakhi – Beautiful rakhis are available in the market for different ranges, but none of them has been made with the love and affection that a handmade rakhi will have. Bead your love for your bhai with each string of the handmade rakhi. If you stay under the same roof or nearby, tie this handmade rakhi at Raksha Bandhan 2021 timing (i.e. from 6:15 am in the morning to 5:31 pm in the evening). Send it by courier if you can’t make it to meet each other. This rakhi will be as precious to your bro as the piece of cloth tied by Draupadi on Lord Krishna’s wrist.
• Send Gifts & Vouchers: This is the digital age and online shopping is just a click away! So, no excuses brother! Buy and send gifts online. If you think your sister is a bit pricky, send her a gift voucher for her favorite e-commerce site. Sisters, you can buy clothes online or brother’s favorite fragrance online.
• Customized Gifts: Customized gifts are really cute. Multiple online sites give you the option to order customized gifts. Open Instagram and Facebook, and you will find several great deals for customized towels, mugs, chocolates, hampers, rakhi, etc. You can order a gift hamper with his/ her pictures or a rakhi with his name or photo carved.
• Surprise Your Sister With Jewelry: Girls love jewelry! If you wish to give your sister something valuable and memorable, jewelry is the best gift. Buy gold nose pin online to surprise your sister. If she loves wearing pendants, nothing can be better than a gold pendant. Find a list of reliable jewelers in your area to order pendants/ earrings buy online.
• Order His Favorite Food: So what if you can’t visit your foodie brother with his favorite foods? His favorite food will definitely reach him. Order his favorite cuisine online via Zomato, Swiggy, Dominos, and so on.
• Cook Together: Eating together is fun but cooking together is double fun! If you guys are under the same roof, make homemade sweets that you used to love eating during your childhood days. If making a sweet dish is too much for you both, cook a special lunch. If you both know only eating and zero cooking, worst case, make a sandwich or Maggi, but enjoy the day together.
• Go Twining: Remember the days when your mother used to buy the same clothes for you and your brother? Recreate your childhood days by wearing matching clothes. Various online portals are offering rakhi special T-shirts. Order one today! Wear the same design or the same color, but go matching.

Celebrate Rakhi Online

Don’t be sad if you can’t meet each other due to Covid19. Still you can enjoy every moment of the day from tying rakhi at the muhurat to cooking together to singing dancing to surprising your sister with gold pearl pendants buy online to eating together to watching movies. All you need to do is make a video call on WhatsApp or schedule a zoom meeting to connect with your siblings around any corner. Watch movies over screen share or by logging in at the same on Amazon/ Netflix.

You are living in 2021, the digital era in which no virus or distance can stop you from rejoicing the bond of brother and sister. Whether you can meet or not, do not forget to tease each other. The sibling relationship is all about fun, laughter, teasing, leg-pulling, unlimited love and hidden care.

In the excitement of celebrating Rakhi, let’s not forget that coronavirus is still there. Recall the reason why this festival is celebrated. It is a festival to celebrate the bond of brother-sister live, where each prays and promises for the well-being of the other.  Make sure to wear a mask on the go, sanitize your hands, and take all covid19 precautionary measures so that no brother or sister is deprived of celebrating this festival in the coming years. Tie your handmade rakhi on your brother’s wrist at Raksha Bandhan 2021 muhurat for maximum blessings.

Wishing you all a responsible, Happy & Safe Raksha Bandhan.