Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival of the celebration of a bond between a brother and sister or a cousin brother and cousin sister. Different parts of India have different traditions for Raksha Bandhan.

This is the story of Raksha Bandhan. Once, there was a powerful king called Bali. He was devoted to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu gave Bali invincibility, but that ended up badly because Bali took over the universe.

One day, Indra, the king of gods, went to Lord Vishnu and told him about Bali taking over the universe. Lord Vishnu took birth as Vaaman, a dwarf. Vaaman appears before Bali and says that he has come to ask for as much land as he can cover with three footsteps. Bali promised the dwarf 3 strides of land.

Vaaman grew bigger and bigger and covered the heavens and Earth in two steps. Bali offered for Vaaman to place his third step on his head. Lord Vishnu put his foot on Bali’s head and sent him to Sutala, a kingdom below Earth. Bali was given two boons. He asked Lord Vishnu to always stay in his palace and return to Earth once a year. Lord Vishnu agreed.

Many days passed, and Goddess Lakshmi missed her husband, Lord Vishnu. She dressed as an ordinary lady and met Bali. She said, “I have come here as your sister.” And she tied a thread on Bali’s wrist and blessed him. The goddess says she wants her husband, and Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi appear in their true forms. Bali falls to their feet and requests Lord Vishnu to live in Vaikuntha again. Since then, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated.

This past weekend, I celebrated Raksha Bandhan with my cousin brothers, Avibhai, Manavbhai, and Neelbhai. I tied rakhis to their wrists, and we ate pizza as well. It was a lot of fun! See the pictures of my wonderful time below.

Written by Kruti Patel