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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 91热爆 Radio 4.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 26 Aug 2018 23:30
91热爆 Radio 4

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Clip

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: Banglar Mati Banglar Jol聽Author: Rabindranath TagoreTranslated by Deepankar Choudhury
Title: Here Nor There聽Author: Bernard O'Donoghue聽Pubilshed by Chatto & Windus
Title: The Bigger Picture聽Found in No Shore Too Far聽Author: Jonathan Stedall聽Published by Hawthorn Press
Title: Raksha Bandhan聽Found in The Father of Dawn聽Author: Sarojini Naidu
Title: Unnesting聽Author: Mary Lee McNeal聽Published by Grayson Books

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Aug 2018 06:05
    91热爆 Radio 4
  • Sun 26 Aug 2018 23:30
    91热爆 Radio 4