Uploads from avipatra {Busy}, tagged prayer

#238 Joy with Lights

nobody@flickr.com (avipatra {Busy}) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 11:39:39 -0700

avipatra {Busy} posted a photo:

It is the kids who enjoy the most with the lights during Diwali and parents love that.

#235 Deepabali (The Festival of Lights)

nobody@flickr.com (avipatra {Busy}) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:21:30 -0700

avipatra {Busy} posted a photo:

Let there be light!!

#237 Enlightment

nobody@flickr.com (avipatra {Busy}) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:24:48 -0700

avipatra {Busy} posted a photo:

The Festival of Light!!

#108 Rakhi Bandhan (The Bond of Protection) - রাখি বন্ধন

nobody@flickr.com (avipatra {Busy}) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:57:51 -0700

avipatra {Busy} posted a photo:

The festival is marked by the tying of a rakhi, or holy thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her as she presents sweets to her brother. The brother and sister traditionally feed one another sweets.

It is not necessary that the rakhi be given only to a blood brother; any male can be "adopted" as a brother by tying a rakhi on the person, irrespective of whether he is cousin or a good friend. Indian history is replete with women asking for protection, through rakhi, from men who were neither their brothers, nor Hindus themselves.

The rakhi may also be tied on other special occasions to show solidarity and kinship (not necessarily only among brothers and sisters), as was done during the Indian independence movement.