Raksha Bandhan 2027

What is Raksha Bandhan?

Raksha Bandhan — Rakhi — celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. It falls on the full moon (Purnima) of the month of Shravana, usually in August. Sisters tie a sacred thread, the rakhi, on their brothers' wrists and pray for their well-being; brothers promise to protect and support their sisters and give them a gift. The name means "the bond of protection".

Why is Raksha Bandhan celebrated?

Several stories are linked with the festival. In the Mahabharata, Draupadi tore a strip from her sari to bind Krishna's bleeding finger; Krishna promised to protect her and later saved her honour in the Kaurava court. In another story, Goddess Lakshmi tied a thread on King Bali's wrist to win back Lord Vishnu, who had been guarding Bali's kingdom. A popular historical story tells of Rani Karnavati of Mewar sending a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun to ask for help. Over time, rakhi has grown to include cousins, friends and anyone one considers family.

How is Raksha Bandhan celebrated?

• Sisters prepare a thali with the rakhi, roli or kumkum, rice (akshat), a diya and sweets.
• The sister applies a tilak on her brother's forehead, performs a small aarti, ties the rakhi on his right wrist and feeds him a sweet.
• The brother gives a gift or money and a promise of protection; elders bless both.
• Families gather for a festive meal; sisters who live far away send rakhis by post, and video calls have become part of the day.

Traditionally the rakhi is tied during an auspicious time after Bhadra (an inauspicious karana) has passed; many families check the muhurat for their city.

The same full moon across India

Shravana Purnima has other meanings too. In coastal Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat it is Narali Purnima, when fishing communities offer coconuts to the sea at the end of the monsoon. Brahmin families perform Upakarma (Avani Avittam in Tamil Nadu), changing the sacred thread. In Jharkhand and Odisha it is celebrated as Gamha Purnima with cattle worship, and in Uttarakhand as Janopunyu.

Raksha Bandhan abroad

Indian grocery stores worldwide sell rakhis in the weeks before the festival, and international post services see a rush of rakhi envelopes. Families abroad often celebrate on the nearest weekend so that siblings and cousins can be together, and many communities organise rakhi-making workshops for children.

What is the message of Raksha Bandhan?

Rakhi is a promise of care that goes both ways. Today many sisters tie rakhis to sisters, and brothers and sisters alike promise to look out for each other — a simple thread that keeps families connected across distance.