Recently, Bharatiya diaspora throughout the world celebrated Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan and Onam for the golden rule of King Mahabali. Today (2nd Sep) Ganesha Chaturthi is being celebrated. Navaratri, Dussehra and Diwali will follow soon. The Sanatan Dharma festivals are punctuated throughout the year for cultural development, harmony and betterment of family and society. The mode of celebration varies for each region and each community.
The roots of all Sanatan Dharma festivals are embedded deep in ancient events which occurred thousands of years ago in the land of Bharat. Rama Navami, Navaratri, Dussehra and Diwali have their roots in Ramayana. Ganesha Chaturthi has its roots thousands of years before that in Rigved which was composed at least five thousand years ago.
A letter writer recently said that Raksha Bandhan was started by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Which is not true. Janmashtmi and Raksha Bandhan have their roots in Mahabharata. The first attested use of Raksha Bandhan in the English language dates to 1829, in James Tod’s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan.
Narsibhai Patel
New Malden
