General question answer on Raksha Bandhan

With Rakhi approaching, there must be many quiz questions and answers on raksha bandhan that you are struggling to understand, comprehend and execute. So, here we have brought forward rakhi online questions and their answers that will help you navigate through the traditions and significance of this auspicious occasion.

Raksha Bandhan question answer - a thorough guide

Q 1. When did the Raksha Bandhan celebrations begin?

Ans. Of course there are many stories and myths that suggest and date Raksha Bandhan celebrations as an important part of Hinduism.

According to the hindu mythologies, there are three predominant stories that revolve around this auspicious holiday:

Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas from Mahabharata tied a piece of cloth from her sari on the wounded hand of Lord Krishna.
Roxana, the wife of Alexander the Great, had sent a Rakhi thread to King Porus requesting him not to harm her husband on the battlefield. This request was kept by King Porus.
The third story is of Goddess Lakshmi tying a Rakhi to King MahaBali to form a deeper bond with him.

Q 2. In the year 2021, which day (tithi) Raksha Bandhan is as per the Hindu calendar?

Ans. Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on Sunday, 22nd August 2021, this year. The tithi of Purnima starts from 7:00 P.M. on 21st August 2021 and it ends at 5:31 P.M. on 22nd August 2021.

Q 3. On which hand should we tie the Rakhi?

Ans. As per the hindu customs and traditions, Rakhi is always tied on the right hand of the brother. The reason behind this is that according to our customs, the left hand is not considered pure for auspicious rituals and chores. That is the reason why Rakhi is always tied on the right hand.

Q 4. For how long should we wear the tied Rakhi?

Ans. There are no hard and fast rules. Rakhis can be worn by brothers for as long as they want. However, there are two particular traditional aspects that led to the practice of wearing Rakhi for a longer duration.
Under the Hindu traditions, the Rakhi is worn by brothers till the day of Krishna Janmashtami. This day comes 8 days after the Rakhi festival. According to Maharashtraian customs, Rakhi must be worn from the day of Raksha Bandhan till the next 15 days.

Q 4. Is there anything that you need to say while tying Rakhi?

Ans. As the ceremony of Raksha Bandhan begins with the sister tying the sacred thread on her brother’s wrist, the following mantra is recited to bring holiness to the sibling bond and to wish a long happy life for the brother.

Here is the mantra:

येन बद्धो बलि: राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबल:!
तेन त्वामभिबध्नामि रक्षे मा चल मा चल !!

Here is the translation:

Ans. “The protective thread which was tied to the extremely benevolent King, Bali, I tie the same sacred thread on your wrist, which will protect you from all adversities forever”.

Q 5. The brother in turn reciprocates by saying:

Ans. “I swear by the obligation of that sacred thread sister, I will always protect you from each and every trouble and adversity.”

Q 6. Is it necessary for sisters to fast on this day?

Ans. According to the traditional rituals, it is not a necessary observance. However, according to the popular cultural practices that are observed all across many Hindu households, sisters fast to add to the auspiciousness of the event as it is believed that it adds to good health and a happy prosperous life for the brothers.

Q 7. Can a daughter tie Rakhi to her father?

Ans. The festival of Raksha Bandhan implies the bond of protection and honour. Holding the purity of this day into account, daughters most certainly can celebrate the auspiciousness of it by expressing their love and gratitude for their fathers by tying Rakhi.

Q 8. Can ladies tie Rakhi to Lord Ganesha?

Ans. Women can tie Rakhi to Lord Ganesha to pray for their family and the success of their profession. According to legends from Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha celebrated Raksha Bandhan with his sister Mansa Devi who had tied the sacred thread to his wrist.

Q 9. Why is Rakhi tied to Bhabhi?

Ans. To make the Bhabhi feel special and a part of the family, Rakhi has been tied to their right hand wrist along with the brothers. This helps in making the family feel included in each other’s life and make your Bhabhi feel like she is also a part of the family!

Q 10. Which countries celebrate Raksha Bandhan?

Ans. Raksha Bandhan can be and is celebrated in any country. This is a traditional Hindu festival, however, nowadays, more and more people from different cultural backgrounds are taking a keen interest in Rakhi celebrations and adopting this Hindu tradition in their own way!

Q 11. Why is the right hand used to tie Rakhi?

Ans. As explained above, the right hand is considered auspicious by our Hindu culture. Keeping that in mind the Rakhi is tied with the most empowering hand which is the right hand.

Q 12. Which kind of Rakhi is the best?

Ans. Holy Rakhis are the most important ones on this occasion. Be it a silver Rakhi, gold Rakhi, diamond Rakhi or even kundan Rakhi, each of these Rakhis are holy and considered the very best choices. However, any other Rakhi that you choose for your siblings is going to be a great addition to this day as they are given with pure intentions.

Q 13. What is the best colour of Rakhi?

Ans. Red and green are the most auspicious colours and that is reflected on most of the traditional Rakhis. You can also find many Rakhis with hints and auras of metallic auspicious colours such as gold, silver and bronze. These are the most traditional and pure colours.

Q 14. Can a sister tie Rakhi to another sister?

Ans. Yes, absolutely. The bond of siblinghood and protection applies to sisters as well. You can tie Rakhi to your sister as well as your brother.

Q 15. Can you tie Rakhi to your brother-in-law?

Ans. Just like your sister-in-law, even brother-in-laws can be honoured by the tying of Rakhi gesture. This sweet gesture will show how everyone in the family considers him a part of the family.