| The festival of Raksha Bandhan begins with exchange of greetings, applying tilak, tying the sacred thread, offering sweets and then exchanging gifts.
1. Greetings – Our every thought and word for everyone should be a blessing. Irrespective of their sanskars and behaviours, we create only pure and positive thoughts and words which empower them to change their sanskars. We radiate blessings to them which become their reality and change their destiny. Let us delete all the past hurt that we are still holding on to, because they have radiated impure and negative vibrations to us.
2. Tilak – We apply the tilak at the center of the forehead, as a reminder to open the third eye, the seat of the soul. Applying tilak means to awaken to the reality that I am not this body, roles and relationships. I am a divine soul and each one I interact with is the same. This finishes our body consciousness of everything that we have acquired in this life. Body consciousness is the foundation of all vices. Soul consciousness is the foundation of all virtues.
3. Rakhi – Rakhi is derived from the word Raksha, meaning protection. Tying a rakhi is symbolic of our pledge to use our original sanskars of purity and love in every thought, word and action, which is our protection. When it remains tied on our wrist, a Rakhi is a reminder about the promise we have made to our own self and God.
4. Sweets – It is a reminder that our thoughts, feelings, intentions and words must always be sweet. This creates harmony in our relationships.
5. Gifts – Let us choose any addiction, habit or sanskar which has been troubling us and give it up on this Raksha Bandhan. This is the best gift we can give ourselves, our family and to God. | 
