Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty recently shared her perspective on Raksha Bandhan, a significant festival for her, in a video posted on social media platform X. She highlighted the festival’s importance, describing it as a time when a sister ties a rakhi (a protective thread) and asks for support and protection from her brother in times of need.
Raksha Bandhan has a rich history. When Rani Karnavati was in danger, she sent a thread to King Humayun as a symbol of sibling-hood, asking for his help. This is where the tradition of the thread began and it continues to this day. pic.twitter.com/p98lwCZ6Pp
— Smt. Sudha Murty (@SmtSudhaMurty) August 19, 2024
Murty recounted a story associated with Raksha Bandhan, where Rani Karnavati of Mewar, facing a threat from attackers, sent a rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun, asking for his protection. According to her narrative, Humayun, unfamiliar with the custom, agreed to help but unfortunately arrived too late to save Karnavati.
The story sparked debate on social media, with some users asserting that Raksha Bandhan’s origins trace back to the Mahabharata. They referenced the tale of Draupadi and Lord Krishna, where Draupadi tied a piece of cloth around Krishna’s wounded finger, leading him to vow protection for her. This narrative is often cited as a traditional origin story for the festival.
With absolute respect Madam, the origin of Rakshabandan dates back to the Mahabharata times.
Lord Krishna once accidentally cut his find on the Sudarshan Chakra. Seeing him injured, Draupadi tore a piece of cloth from her saree and tied it to stop the bleeding. Touched by her…
— D Prasanth Nair (@DPrasanthNair) August 19, 2024
In response to the criticism, Murty issued a clarification, emphasizing that her intention was to highlight one of many stories associated with Raksha Bandhan rather than to present it as the definitive origin. She acknowledged that the festival has various historical and cultural stories, including those from the Mahabharata and other ancient traditions.
The story I shared on Raksha Bandhan is just one of many tales associated with the festival and certainly not its origin. As I have said in the video clip, this was already a custom of the land. My intention was to highlight one of the many stories I learnt about when growing up,…
— Smt. Sudha Murty (@SmtSudhaMurty) August 19, 2024