(Image source from: girlsdunia)

Raksha Bandhan, the day dedicated to the bond of brothers and sisters, this years will be celebrated on August 15 coinciding with Indian Independence Day celebrations.

On this day, sisters tie a holy string called "Rakhi" to their brothers, that is like a promise taken to protect each other of any evil that may come their way.

This being so, in some parts of India, Rakhi is tied to anyone who means a lot and whom you want to protect. Some even tie rakhi to the women of the house but their rakhi is a little different(prettier) and is called Lumba rakhi.

Rakhsha Bandhan comes with a whole set of rituals. Sisters adorn Raksha Bandhan thali where all the essential ingredients to complete the ritual are placed.

Read: Best Ways to Celebrate Raksha Bandhan If Your Brother Lives Abroad

From placing readymade or hand-made rakhis, the thali should consist of many other things and it is not that easy to decorate as you thought. It plays an important role in the whole traditional ceremony. 

Here are the things placed on Raksha Bandhan thali:

Rakhi

The foremost item on the thali should be is the holy string, Rakhi. You can either prepare Rakhi by yourself according to your brothers choice or can purchase one in the market which will be filled with Rakhis of different designs and colors.  

Sindoor

The red or orange sindoor or roli that is usually used for tika or tilak should be present on the thali. Sindoor is also known as Vermilion in English.

Dahi

Dahi or curd should also be placed on the thali to dip the Roli or Vermilion in with the ring finger and then to apply on the forehead of the brother as tika or tilak. After curd and roli are applied a little bit of akshat is stuck on the tilak as well.  

Sweet

You can place a variety of sweets that basically that your brother likes such as soft gulab jamuns, Kaju katlis, etc. And, place it on the thali to feed it to your brother after rakhi is tied.  

Traditional Diya

The traditional diya, which is a part of every Indian holy ritual, should be placed on thali. To make the diya you will need a deepak, it can be any made out of clay.

Scented Sticks

For some good smell and to bring in positive vibes, burn any scented stick and place it on the thali.

Flowers

However, flowers are optional. Along with the akshat you can sprinkle some flowers or flower petals on your male sibling.

Rakshabandhan or Rakhi rituals usually set off with applying tika with the roli (red sindoor) and yogurt and then some akshat is sprinkled over the brother. After that Rakhi is tied on the right wrist and then follows the sweets, diya, flowers.

By Sowmya Sangam