Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
INDIA, August 2, 2009: Rakhi is celebrated in various ways all over India. In the West, Rakshabandhan is celebrated as Nariyal Purnima. Coconuts are thrown into the sea as a mark of respect and offering to Lord Varuna. In the South, the day is celebrated as Avani Avittam. This day is auspicious, especially for the Brahmin community as they change their Janeyu (Holy thread) amid chanting of mantras. In the North, Rakhi Purnima also called Kajri Purnima. It is celebrated when wheat seeds are sown. Goddess Bhagwati is worshipped and the farmers seek her blessing for good crop cultivation. And in the East, the custom was initiated in 1905 by Rabindranath Tagore; the students in Shanti Niketan follow it religiously.
And now, there’s e-Rakhi. These special rakhis have no strings attached to them. Similar to e-Holi and e-Diwali, it’s time to check out e-Rakshabandhan. With technology meeting tradition, e-Rakhis are common on the occasion of Rakshabandha for the tech-savvy youngsters. With different sites offering rakhi greetings, some sisters are opting for e-rakhis, which also means a virtual tilak and virtual laddoo for your brother. “Who wants to go to the trouble of packing the kalewa-chawal and queuing up in line at the post office to send the rakhi via mail, when cyber-rakhi is available at the click of a mouse,” says Sunidhi, who would be sending e-rakhi to her brother in Singapore.