Rhakhis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Colourful decorative threads tied around the wrists of brothers by sisters during the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan
2. Ornamental bands of thread worn on the wrist as tokens of protection and affection during the Raksha Bandhan festival
3. Sacred wrist threads exchanged between siblings in India as symbols of love, duty and protection on Raksha Bandhan

Etymology: A "rakhi" is a thin decorative thread tied around the wrist, and the name comes from Sanskrit "raksha," meaning "protection." The thread is the physical form of that meaning. In the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, a sister ties one on her brother's wrist as a symbol of her protection and his duty to her, and the brother usually gives a gift in return. The Sanskrit "raksha" comes from the verb root "raksh," "to protect," which also gave Hindi and other North Indian languages their word "rakhi" for the thread and the festival. English borrowed it from Hindi, and the spelling "rakhi" is the common modern form. "Rakhis" is simply its English plural, used when referring to several threads.