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Sunday, 2 August 2020

Friendship Day versus Raksha Bhandhan

PC THOMAS

Friendship day coincides with Raksha Bahandhan. International Friendship day is on July 30, but in India, it is celebrated on the first Sunday of August, on the basis that the valuable role a friend plays in life. True friends make up our life more joyful. They give us a feeling of belonging, cause us to feel cherished, never let us feel lonely and promote us to live with a better life and let go of our negative behavior patterns.

Though Friendship Day is intended to promote the role of friend in life, it is misused by the youth, like a Valentine day spirit, making a juvenile romance with many girls, saying that at least two-line-girlfriends are needed to enjoy life. At the same time it is a dangerous fact to understand that “Not a single crow, which has caught on two-line electrical wire, is alive today”!!
Unlike Friendship day, Raksha Bahandhan or Rakhi epitomizes family relationships.  It is celebrated today, the 3rd August, with boundless happiness and passion because it is the bond between brothers and sisters.  There is a deep feeling of love in it.  As we enjoy sacred festivals like Raksha Bahandhan, we should remember that, in reality, they all are meant to remind us of the inner bliss and oneness that are our inherent nature and are the very essence of life. Read more PC Thomas Article

In today's world, where human beings and nature are besieged by problems connected to Covid threat with social distancing, celebrations of such sacred days are in pipe-line pressure, however, they come out even more forcefully through various social media. These celebrations are intended to bring the much-needed message of unconditional love, destroying all enemies and disparities from our live.

Once an old man’s 100 years of Birthday celebrated where he was asked a question – "What is the greatest achievement in your long life"? - "I don’t have any enemies now", he said.  The questioner asked again: "How did, Grand-dad, you achieve this superhuman character,'? In laugh he said, "I did have many, many enemies, but NOW, in this my ripe age, all bastards are dead, I have outlived all of them.”! It is funny, this is not what the quality of having no enemies – instead, while living with the society, we wipe out our enemies and make them friends. This love makes us perfect friendship, because love is the spirit of God.

Seeing a noble action– during the U.S civil war, the then American President Abraham Lincoln was criticized for speaking of generous treatment for the southern revolutionaries. The critic reminded Lincoln that there was a combat going on, the confederates were the enemy, and they should be destroyed. But Lincoln loudly uttered, "I will destroy my enemies by changing them my friends"! This is what the real weapon of killing enemies and making friends with divine love.

The Friends in Friendship-Day and the siblings in Raksha Bhandhan-day are different in nature, on the basis of the above story.  In this dynamic and diverse world, that is changing very fast, friends also change. It is difficult to appraise whether they will be your support strength when you need them.  On the other hand, brothers can be dependable, their love for their Sisters never change.  Their love and affection match with Lincoln’s love and attitude, not with the Old man’s case.

All of us share a love-hate relationship with others in our life. Let us celebrate the Friendship day and promote the maxim that "A friend in need is a friend indeed".  And come to Raksha Bahandhan, it’s time to show some sibling’s unconditional love and bondage in their life.  This article published in Free Press on 2.8.20- Stay updated with the Best Blog PC Thomas

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