Rakhi and Honour Killings are two extremes of human relations. Raksha Bandhan is a ceremony adhered by the sisters by tying a colorful thread on the brothers wrist requesting him to be protective towards the weaker gender. While the female chauvinists call it gender discrimination begins fro m here, the Indian culture feels it is the bonding between the siblings that plays up-moods with such festivities. Raksha Bandhan was initially a festival in the Northern parts of the country, but like good fragrance is just not restricted to owner's garden alone, the custom started spreading across the lengths and breadths of this vast nation.
Rakhi according to the veterans is a festive occasion like globally celebrating the English new year or yearning for haleem in the Ramzan months and Biriyan during Bakrid time. Or rather it Rakhi is not a ritual but a sign of bonding and hence must be universal. The whole festivity, that falls on the full moon day of the 'shravan' month, starts with a thread tied by the sister on her bro's wrist. And then she feeds him with home made and mostly self made delicacies. Then the overwhelmed bro' gifts his sister and assures her of his protection, love and affection all through his life. The ritual is so well planned that at no pint of the whole issue is a particular god or belief is reckoned. It is about bonding, human relationship filled with love and caring. Hence the arguments to make it universal is really worth the issue.
Now coming to the dastardly act of honor killings. In most cases that are virulent across the nation, it is either the brother and or the father kill the girls for marrying against their wishes. Inspite of all these rituals and festivals, why this extreme steps. Acquaintance, rapport or wedding is culmination of two hearts irrespective of any social status and why this reluctance and violence. Is there any honor in killing. None in the right senses would disagree on this.
When I started on this article my editor asked me how I would link the both and I just said both deal with human relations. If what I write atleast gives some one a chance to rethink on their violence, probably the efforts are worth my life......(With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)
