Raksha Bandhan is the festival of the protective thread (raksha means protection, bandhan a bond). It falls on Purnima, the full Moon day, of the month of Shravana. A sister ties a rakhi on her brother’s wrist, prays for his well-being, and he promises his care. The bond is not limited to blood: cousins, friends and neighbours also tie and receive rakhis.
Timing
Most families tie the rakhi in the afternoon, and many follow the almanac in avoiding Bhadra, a period within the Purnima when some traditions advise against starting auspicious acts. The date and the suggested time window differ by city. The Raksha Bandhan page gives them for 49 cities. You can also open the page for New Delhi, New York or London, and use the any-city tool for other places. We do not give dates here.
Samagri: the rakhi thali
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Rakhi, one for each brother | The protective thread |
| Roli (kumkum) and a few grains of rice | For the tilak on the forehead |
| A lamp (diya) and a small incense stick | For the aarti |
| Sweets | Offered to the brother and eaten together |
| A coconut, in some regions | Offered as a gift |
| Kalash or a small pot of water, in some homes | Placed on the thali |
| A small piece of cloth or a handkerchief | Covers the head if the family follows the custom |
Steps in order
- Bathe, dress in clean clothes, and set the thali.
- Seat your brother facing east or north, as your family does, with his head covered if that is the custom.
- Apply roli and rice as a tilak on his forehead.
- Tie the rakhi on his right wrist, saying a short prayer or the traditional verse for his health.
- Do a small aarti with the lamp, and offer a sweet by hand.
- He touches your feet or blesses you, offers a gift, and promises to stand by you.
- Share a meal. Brothers who live far away receive the rakhi by post or video call; this is widely accepted.
The katha
Several stories are told, and none is the only one. In one popular tale, Krishna cut his finger while handling the discus, and Draupadi tore a strip from her sari and bound it. Krishna promised to repay the kindness, and in the Mahabharata’s assembly hall at Hastinapur, as the tradition tells, he answered her call for help.
In another tale from the Puranas, the gods were fighting the asuras and Indra was losing. His wife, Indrani, prepared a protective thread, charmed it with prayers, and tied it on his wrist, and he returned to the fight and prevailed. A third story tells of Lakshmi, who tied a thread on the asura king Bali, guarding the doors of Vishnu’s dwelling, and asked him for her husband’s freedom. Each story shows the thread as a symbol of protection and of the care between people.
Regional variations
Customs differ by region and family; follow your family’s custom. In Maharashtra and the coast the day is Narali Purnima and is marked with offerings to the sea. In Odisha and Bengal it is linked with Jhulan Purnima and swings. In the south it coincides with Avani Avittam, when the sacred thread is changed.
Fasting and food
Many sisters wait to eat until after the rakhi is tied, so a late morning or afternoon meal is common. It is not a long fast. If you have diabetes, are pregnant, or take medicine at fixed times, please eat when needed and tie the rakhi after your meal.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is Bhadra and why do families avoid it?
Bhadra is a part of the day within certain tithis that many almanacs mark as unsuitable for auspicious acts. Families who follow it tie the rakhi after it ends. Check the time for your city.
↳ On which wrist is the rakhi tied?
The right wrist is the usual custom, as the right hand is used for giving and for rites. Your family may follow another.
↳ Can a sister tie a rakhi to a sister, or a friend?
Yes. The thread is a sign of care, and many people tie it to cousins, friends, and also to soldiers or neighbours.
↳ What if my brother is far away?
Send the rakhi in advance by post, and tie it with him on a video call, or ask a family member to tie it at the right time. The intention matters more than the distance.