Rakhi Purnima is one of the special occasions in India which celebrates the eternal relation between a brother and sister. The festival is celebrated on the full-moon day of the month of Sravana which falls in the month of August. On this auspicious day the sister ties a Rakhi on the hand of the brother as a mark of love and honour. Rakhi threads are better known as Dori. The festival is marked by the tying of a Rakhi or Holy Thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and promise to look after her. The brother and sister traditionally feed each other sweets. It is still celebrated today, and the brother and sister have to treat each other well for the day.
Raksha Bandhan is one of the important festivals which capture the true spirit of the relationship between a brother and sister. Raksha means to “protect” and Bandhan stands for “bond.” Hence, Rakhi is known as the Protection Bond. Every year on the day of the festival a sister ties the Rakhi thread on the hand of the brother and prays for his wellbeing and long life. From historical times Rakhi has been considered as protection bond. In the Mahabharata and Vedic Period, there is reference to this auspicious event.
This day is also celebrated as Gamha Purnima, the birthday of Lord Baladeva, the elder brother of Lord Sri Krishna. In Odisha especially in Paralakhemundi and other parts, the birthday of Lord Baladeva is celebrated through a popular game known as Gamha-Diyan (The Gamha Jump). Before the auspicious day, the Gamha (platform) is made of bricks, mud and grass. The middle of the platform is filled with stones to make it strong enough. It is made high upwards and low downwards making the shape of a spur. Its top looks like a tower. A short distance from the top of the Gamha, two poles are dug in opposite direction, which are connected with a bamboo stick tied to both the poles. In the bamboo stick various fruits like oranges, bananas, coconuts etc. are tied very carefully. The people one by one come with a run from the downward of the Gamha, and on reaching the top, give a jump to catch the fruits. One who touches a fruit gets an attractive prize.
Courtesy : Odisha Government