Raksha Bandhan,
literally bond of protection, marks
the day when the wife of lord Indra
tied a silk amulet on his wrist
to protect him from harm when he
went to fight the demons. The day
celebrates the bond between brother
and sister. The sister says special
prayers and ties coloured threads
called rakhi around the wrists of
her brothers to remind them of the
special bond and their role as protectors
of the family. He in turn gives
a gift which is a promise that he
will protect his sisters from any
harm. Brahmins change their sacred
thread(janoi) on this day and dedicate
themselves once again to the study
of the scriptures.Along the coast,
fishing communities celebrate Narial
pooja on this day.