Raksha Bandhan
33 days until Raksha Bandhan
About Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival that honours the cherished bond between brothers and sisters. Celebrated primarily across India, the occasion is marked by sisters tying a sacred thread known as a rakhi around their brothers' wrists as a symbol of affection, protection, and lifelong goodwill.
History
The roots of Raksha Bandhan draw from ancient Hindu scriptures and historical legends. According to popular mythology, Goddess Lakshmi tied a sacred thread to King Bali to secure a vow of protection, while a famous episode in the Mahabharata describes Draupadi tearing a strip from her sari to bandage Lord Krishna's wounded finger, prompting Krishna to promise her eternal support.
In modern history, the festival gained significant social resonance during the 1905 Partition of Bengal. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore encouraged Hindus and Muslims to tie colourful threads on each other's wrists as a call for community solidarity and peaceful resistance against British colonial division.
Traditions & Celebrations
On the morning of Raksha Bandhan, family members gather in traditional clothing for a prayer ritual. Sisters apply a tilak to their brothers' foreheads, perform a short aarti, and tie a rakhi around their right wrists while offering prayers for their health and long life. In return, brothers offer gifts or cash and reiterate their pledge to support their sisters. The ritual concludes with the exchange of traditional Indian sweets like laddu, barfi, or peda.
Did you know?
- The term 'Raksha Bandhan' derives from Sanskrit, where 'raksha' means protection and 'bandhan' means the act of binding.
- In western coastal states such as Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat, the same full moon day is celebrated as Nariyal Purnima, dedicated to worshipping the ocean deity Varuna.
- India Post releases specialized water-resistant envelopes ahead of the festival to ensure rakhis sent by mail withstand the monsoon rains.
- Poet Rabindranath Tagore transformed the festival into a mass political movement for Hindu-Muslim unity during the 1905 Bengal partition.
Raksha Bandhan dates by year
Dates marked as estimated are calculated and will be updated once officially confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Raksha Bandhan celebrated each year?
Raksha Bandhan takes place on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Shravana, which usually falls in August.
Can Raksha Bandhan be observed between non-biological siblings?
Yes, Rakhis are frequently tied to cousins, close friends, neighbours, and protective figures who share a deeply caring relationship.
Is Raksha Bandhan a official bank holiday in India?
Raksha Bandhan is a gazetted or state-specific official holiday in many Indian states, resulting in bank and school closures in those areas, though policies differ across regions.