Acharya Prashant explains that historically, Raksha Bandhan has not been a festival solely between a brother and a sister. He cites scriptures like the Bhavishya Purana, Skanda Purana, Padma Purana, and Bhagavat Purana, which contain references to one person tying a 'Raksha' (a thread of protection) to another, where it is not necessary for the two individuals to be a man and a woman. He provides an example from the Bhavishya Purana where, during a war between gods and demons, the preceptor Brihaspati ties a Raksha to Indra, who is his disciple. This instance involves two men in a Guru-disciple relationship. The mantra recited during this ritual, he explains, refers to binding the mighty demon king Bali with a thread and asks the Rakhi to remain steadfast. This tradition of tying a thread is ancient, beautiful, and has deep meanings that extend beyond the brother-sister relationship. He further illustrates this with the tradition in Gurukuls (ancient schools) where, upon completion of education, the Guru would tie a Raksha to the disciple and vice-versa, signifying mutual cooperation and love, much like the peace chants in the Upanishads. Acharya Prashant agrees that it is time to give Raksha Bandhan a broader and deeper meaning. The fundamental principle is that whoever is weak needs protection. He uses the popular story of Queen Karnavati of Mewar, who sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun, to point out that she needed protection because she was in a weak position, not simply because she was a woman or a sister. The need for protection arises from weakness. Applying this to the contemporary world, Acharya Prashant identifies who is truly weak and needs protection today. He lists the environment, the Earth, animals, and the planet itself, which are facing a severe crisis due to climate change and biodiversity loss caused by human actions. He also points out that language, script (like Devanagari), culture, spirituality, truth, and goodness are also weak and fading. He suggests that truth is like a small child that needs to be nurtured with great care. Therefore, the new and higher meaning of Raksha Bandhan should be a vow to protect whatever is true and good but is weak. He urges everyone, regardless of gender or relationship, to take a pledge to stand for the protection of these vulnerable entities. This, he concludes, would be the true respect for the festival, making it immortal and relevant, and ensuring the protection of spirituality and righteousness.