Which festival is older historically: Raksha-bandhan or Balram-jayanthi?
There is no record or evidance to tell the older festival as both incidents instrumental for observing these two festivals at the same time. They both are observed on Sravana Poornima. Incidentally some more festivals like “Avani avittam” (chaning of Sacred Thread) festival is also celebrated on this day by South Indians. But when we try to find historically which one of these festivals is older I feel Balram Jayanthi should be the older one, as the incidents pertaining to Balaram happened much before than Sisupala or Draupati in Mahabharat. The findings are as under — The origin of the festival RAKSHA BANDHAN is mostly attributed that of Draupadi and Krishna during the Rajsuya Yaga. According to the legend, after Shishupal’s death, Krishna was left with a bleeding finger. Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas comes forward, tears a strip of silk sari and ties it around Krishna’s wrist to staunch the flow of blood. Touched by her concern, Krishna declares himself bound to her by her brother
