Prelude: A sister speaks...

20 / 21 August 2013: Today marks one of my favorite days of the entire year. It’s a date I had made a quick mental note of, months before... just like every year, at the time when the new calendar year had begun and then had waited eagerly for it to dawn. For I knew, on that day, I could throw all my silly tantrums and still get away with my word. For I knew, on that day, I could ask anything, which means simply anything that I wish for and be affectionately assured to have it presented one day. For I knew, on that day ... I could playfully fight and fight harder only to be cosseted and pampered in return. For I knew, that that day was mine.
Which sister wouldn’t long for such a day?
And, I am no exception.

Raksha Bandhan tradition - red thread or moli
Moli: The sacred thread binding love, trust and affection on Raksha Bandhan

 So, yes! Today, I woke up with a joy in my heart and a spring in my steps. Because, ‘That day’ was here - Today! Shravani Purnima, the day popularly celebrated as Raksha Bandhan all over the country, a unique festival promising to tightly secure the unconditional, selfless and innocent love between my bhaiyya and me in a sacred thread of trust, protection, joy and affection not only in this life of ours but also beyond ...

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Words, for me, are not easy to play with but this is one occasion when I can go on and on... such are the feelings wrapped in this day. It’s simply magical. However today, I won’t since I already wrote about the festival last year (Happy Raksha Bandhan). So, allow me to take a slight detour from the main festive course this year and instead focus on something that is not much talked about – a Raksha Bandhan tradition that we, in my family, observe and a tradition that holds a significant part of festivities in our house. Let’s have a look at something peculiar called, Sooun Maandana or the inscription of Good luck! Come, follow me!

Sooun (Soan, Sooan, Shagun) Maandana/ Good Luck stickers, Raksha Bandhan

 What are soouns and what is their significance?

'Soouns' refer to pictures, simple or intricate, representing auspicious symbols believed to protect us from bad energy and welcome good forces and guardian spirits in the house – reflecting the very soul of Raksha Bandhan. In Hinduism, these auspicious symbols can constitute the Swastik, the Sun God, Ram Ram, etc. amongst many others. 'Maandana' is the process of drawing pictures on the walls or the floors of the house and is a custom native to the state of Rajasthan.

 Sooun Maandana: Making of the soouns

 If you really wish to see how it’s done, travel to the villages of Rajasthan. Like most other things, the villagers do it traditionally, in the most authentic manner, in a way it was always meant to be done. Dried cow dung (considered a symbol of purity) or geru (red colored powder) are directly spread on the house and haveli walls such that they remain stamped for the rest of the annual year.

Raksha Bandhan celebration - Swastika Sooun made of cow dung
Raksha Bandhan celebration, sooun made of cow dung
Swastik and symbolic sun sooun made of cow dung,
outside a village house in Rajasthan
'Sooun Mandana' or the drawing of auspicious designs is generally done before fesivals or other auspicious events to welcome Gods or guests in the house.

Such a traditional way of sooun making ensures that the essence of goodwill shines the year round and not just for a few days after the festival. Now, come to the cities and you see a visible contrast. Here, cow dung is absent and so is direct engraving. Instead, paper steps in for the canvas and geru for the ink. Sooun drawings are made on these papers with a red colored powder called geru and these picture papers are then stuck on the walls and entrance.

Raksha Bandhan celebration - Sooun drawing and geru
Raksha Bandhan celebration - Soouns of swastik symbols
Raksha Bandhan tradition - sooun mandana
"Sooun Mandana" (Sooun designs) during Raksha Bandhan

The patterns for the Sooun Mandana ritual can be varied
depending on one's choices but we prefer to keep it simple.

 Besides the hand painted ones, today, one can also find ready made soouns easily available in the markets.

 The Pooja: Offerings to the soouns or “Sooun Jimana”

Guess who gets precedence over the brothers on the day of the festival? It is them - the soouns! Similar to the Hindu belief of offering prayers to Lord Ganesha for good luck before the start of any auspicious activity, sooun jimana or the sooun pooja, done prior to rakhi tying ceremony, is considered an act of good luck and prosperity. As part of sooun jimana, the soouns are offered jaggery or any other sweet along with roli, chawal (rice), the red sacred thread - moli, drops of water coupled with wishes for a happy and prosperous life for the entire family.

Raksha Bandhan tradition - sooun jimana ritual
Sooun Jimana: Offerings to the soouns

 What I like about this ritual is its minimalism and easy style. It requires no elaborate procedures-to-follow, it’s unique, it has drawings and above all, it is purely based on one’s faith, conviction and feelings. Whether you go for cow dung, ready-made market purchase or better still, prefer to do-it-yourself, soouns mean nothing but symbols bearing the reflection of your faith and conviction. The stronger your faith, equally intense will be the goodness in your family!

Do you celebrate any distinct traditions like these during the festival of Raksha Bandhan? In your home, in your village or in your native place, may be? If you do, please share them in the comments section.