Raksha.

 The story of Rani Karnavati and the Rakhi is one of those popular tales that blends a kernel of historical fact with layers of legend, especially tied to the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

In the early 16th century, the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan was ruled by Rana Sanga. After his death in battle, his widow Rani Karnavati became regent for their young son, Vikramaditya Singh. Mewar was proud but vulnerable—surrounded by powerful sultanates and the rising power of the Mughal Empire.

Among Mewar’s enemies was Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat. He had long held an eye on Chittorgarh Fort and now prepared to attack. Rani Karnavati knew her forces were brave but far smaller than the Sultan’s army. In that desperate hour, she turned to an unusual hope—an appeal for brotherly protection.

Far away, in Agra, Mughal Emperor Humayun ruled. Though the Mughals and Rajputs had often clashed, Rani Karnavati sent him a rakhi—a simple thread symbolizing sibling bond—and a plea for help. The gesture was more than ceremonial; it was a leap of faith in an age of politics and war.

When Humayun received the rakhi, he was deeply moved. Honour bound him to respond—not as an emperor to a queen, but as a brother to a sister in distress. He immediately set out with his army to aid her.

Fate, however, was cruel. Humayun’s forces were far away, and by the time they reached Mewar, Bahadur Shah had already breached Chittorgarh’s defences. Faced with certain capture, Rani Karnavati chose the Rajput path of honour—jauhar—entering the flames with the women of the fort rather than fall into enemy hands. The men rode out to their deaths in the final battle.

Humayun arrived too late to save her, but he drove Bahadur Shah’s forces out and restored the fort to her son.

Why the story is remembered:

It is often told as a symbol of Raksha Bandhan’s meaning—that the rakhi is not merely a ritual between blood siblings but a sacred bond of protection.

Historically, records suggest there was indeed correspondence between Rani Karnavati and Humayun, though the exact details of the rakhi are debated. The legend remains powerful because it turns politics into a human tale of trust, honour, and brotherhood.