The war was not going well for the gods and Indra, their king, was disheartened.

His wife Sachi then intervened with a simple gesture. She dug up a silken thread, blessed it with a few mantras and tied it on Indra's wrist.

Shortly after Indra won the war, and till this day Sachi's simple act is remembered in this ancient land on Raksha Bandhan day.

This is one of the legends associated with the festival that falls on August 9.

Silken threads, sanctified in puja, have been tied on their brothers’ wrist by sisters as a mark of their love and affection for as long as India can remember.

It is a sacred, special bond.