The Ties That Bind
On the Indian festival of Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie rakhi threads on their brothers' wrists. Mark Tully talks to his rakhi sister, Tara Gandhi, about the symbolism of this rite.
To mark this year's festival of Raksha Bandhan, Mark Tully discusses the significance of the rite in which sisters tie rakhi threads round their brothers' wrists for protection.
In conversation with Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter, Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, who has made him her honorary rakhi brother, Mark contemplates the power of this symbolic binding. He also considers the strength of sibling bonds and wider ties of friendship between people of all faiths.
The readings include the work of Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu and Mary Lee McNeal, with music from Ravi Shankar and Phillip Glass, Gal Costa and Tuatha Dea.
The readers are Jasper Britton and Emma Cunniffe,
Presenter: Mark Tully
Producer: Frank Stirling
A 7digital production for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
Clip
-
Gandhi’s granddaughter on the need to love and be loved
Duration: 00:50
Music Played
-
Lata Mangeshkar
Bhaiya Mere Rakhi Ke Bandhan
Performer: Lata Mangeshkar.- Chhoti Bahen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
-
Gal Costa
Lavagem Do Bonfim
Performer: Gal Costa.- O Sorriso Do Gato De Alice.
-
Ravi Shankar & Philip Glass
Ragas in Minor Scale
Performer: Philip Glass & Ravi Shankar.- Passages.
- Private music.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
26 Welsh Songs, WoO 155 - No.22 Constancy
Performer: Robbie Burns.- Beethoven: Folksong Arrangements.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
-
Carole King
You've Got A Friend
Performer: Carole King.- Tapestry.
- EPIC.
-
Tuatha Dea
Irish Handfasting
Performer: Tuatha Dea.- The Tribe.
Readings
Title: Here Nor There Author: Bernard O'Donoghue Pubilshed by Chatto & Windus
Title: The Bigger Picture Found in No Shore Too Far Author: Jonathan Stedall Published by Hawthorn Press
Title: Raksha Bandhan Found in The Father of Dawn Author: Sarojini Naidu
Title: Unnesting Author: Mary Lee McNeal Published by Grayson Books
Broadcasts
- Sun 26 Aug 2018 06:05Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
- Sun 26 Aug 2018 23:30Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4