Hyderabad: Gently cradled in the arms of anticipation, the heart-warming festival of Raksha Bandhan approaches, ready to weave its threads of love and togetherness into the tapestry of our lives. With each passing day, the air becomes laden with the scent of joy, as sisters and brothers prepare to celebrate their unbreakable bond in a tradition as old as time.
As the sun-dappled days of August gracefully pass by, sisters busy themselves with selecting the most vibrant and enchanting rakhis, each thread a delicate whisper of their affection. These intricate ties, like a bridge between their souls, symbolize not just protection but a promise to stand by each other through life's ups and downs. In response, brothers eagerly await the opportunity to present tokens of their devotion, vowing silently to shield their sisters from the storms that may come.
Yet, this year, a gentle breeze of uncertainty has brushed across the calendar, casting a playful shadow over the exact day of celebration. The celestial dance of the Hindu lunar calendar, as ancient as the traditions it shapes, has spun its magic once again. In the heart of the 'Sawan' month, beneath the gaze of a full moon, Raksha Bandhan usually finds its place. But 2023 has whispered two different dates – August 30 and 31 – as potential days of jubilation, leaving hearts and minds in a delightful tangle.
In the midst of this charming confusion, the revered 'Drik Panchang' has extended its reassuring hand, designating August 30 as the chosen day. Yet, a fleeting shadow called 'Bhadra Kaal,' stretching its arms from 5:30 pm to 9:01 pm on that day, cautions against hasty celebrations during this time. The priests suggest that the ceremony of love and tying of rakhis be postponed until after 09:01 PM on August 30, when all cosmic energies align harmoniously.
As the clockwork of the universe continues its ceaseless motion, the Poornima Tithi emerges like a pearl, beginning its shimmering presence at 10:58 am on August 30, only to embrace the horizon of August 31 at 7:05 am. And within this embrace, the essence of Raksha Bandhan blooms freely, allowing the threads of sibling affection to be woven from 09:01 pm on August 30 to 7:05 am on August 31.
Why does the confusion over dates occur?
The answer lies in the sky itself, in the dance of the moon and the passage of time.
- Shifting Lunar Calendar: The festival's date fluctuates annually due to the moon's cyclical patterns influencing the lunar calendar.
- Diverse Hindu Calendars: The existence of multiple Hindu calendars, each with distinct methodologies for calculating full moon days, leads to disparities of one or two days in determining Raksha Bandhan.
