Commemorating the pure bond between brothers and sisters: Tribes India celebrates Rakshabandhan

With monsoons fully underway in the country and August around the corner, people across India will soon start gearing up for a long period of festivities. The period between August to November sees an onslaught of Indian festivals; with Rakshabandhan leading the way. Raksha Bandhan celebrates the precious bond between siblings. Sisters tie a sacred thread, called the Rakhi, on the wrist of her brothers on this day. This thread symbolises their loving bond and this simple act of tying, strengthens this loving bond. Unique to India, this festival has always highlighted the importance of siblings in one’s life and how they are there for each other no matter what turns life takes!

To celebrate this festival, Tribes India brings to you an attractive Rakhi corner – an exclusive and wide range of more than 100 varieties of Rakhis, all handmade by tribal communities across the country. Each of these varieties bring with them, a unique characteristic, feature, that is special to the tribe that has made them. Tribal groups from the states of West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Maharashtra have been involved in their creation. Among these 100 varieties are plantable rakhis, rakhis made of beads, bamboo, thread and even metal (moulded in the dhokra art style). Moreover, each one of these exquisite pieces are made out of sustainable material.

The Santhal tribe of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal have crafted attractive rakhis using stones, silk and cotton threads. Interestingly the rakhis crafted by the Bhil and Meena tribes of Rajasthan use wood along with thread; while the Bhils from Dahod in Gujarat use only beads to craft these rakhis. Another tribal group also use beads and wheel beads, along with silk threads, stones and cotton threads for making rakhis. These are the Boro and Mishing tribes from the northeastern state of Assam.

Bamboo rakhis crafted by the women of the Rabha tribe in Assam are also present in this extensive collection. Bamboo strips or coils form the centre piece in these rakhis.  Bamboo is interestingly used as the main material by the Gond, Pardhan (Gondhia district) and the Kolam tribes from Maharashtra. These rakhis are made of bamboo and have engraved wooden pieces and beads also, all tied together using cotton threads. From Madhya Pradesh, Orchha, we also have plantable rakhis. These are 100% biodegradable and organic; these have been handcrafted using wildflowers and coloured seed papers with plantable seeds in between them. Cotton threads have been used to string these attractive & fun rakhis together.

As we celebrate this age-old festival and carry forward our great tradition, let us also do our bit in conserving the environment. Do check out these exquisite, eco-friendly rakhis, at your nearest Tribes India store or www.tribesindia.com.