Raksha Bandhan is a sacred festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love, affection, and protection between brothers and sisters. It is celebrated with great joy across India on the day of Shravan Purnima.
On this day, sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on their brothers' wrists, apply a tilak on their forehead, feed them sweets, and perform aarti. Brothers, in return, offer their sisters blessings, gifts, and a lifelong vow of protection. The entire family comes together to celebrate this auspicious festival.
One of the most famous historical accounts is of Rani Karnavati sending a rakhi to Mughal emperor Humayun seeking his protection. When Bahadur Shah attacked Chittor, Queen Karnavati sent a rakhi to Humayun, who honored the bond of a sworn sister and sent help to her aid. This story stands as a powerful symbol of the sacred bond between brother and sister.
According to mythology, Indrani (Shachi), the wife of Lord Indra, tied a sacred thread (raksha sutra) on Indra's wrist to protect him from the asuras (demons), and Indra emerged victorious in the battle. Another famous legend tells of Draupadi tearing a piece of her saree to bind Lord Krishna's wounded finger, and in return, Krishna vowed to protect her for life — a promise he honored during the infamous incident of Cheer Haran (disrobing of Draupadi).
- Tying Rakhi — the sister ties the sacred thread on her brother's right wrist
- Applying Tilak — a mark of roli (vermilion) and rice on the forehead
- Performing Aarti — lighting a lamp and waving it in front of the brother
- Offering Sweets — feeding traditional sweets to mark the occasion
- Exchanging Gifts — brothers give gifts and shagun (token of love) to sisters
- Prayers for Long Life — sisters pray for the brother's wellbeing and longevity
- Bathe and wear clean, fresh clothes
- Prepare a thali with rakhi, roli, akshat (rice), diya, sweets, and kumkum
- Worship Lord Ganesha and the family deity first
- The brother sits facing east or north direction
- The sister applies tilak on the brother's forehead and offers akshat
- Tie the rakhi on the right wrist while reciting the sacred mantra
- Perform aarti and offer sweets to complete the ritual
तेन त्वामपि बध्नामि रक्षे मा चल मा चल ॥
- Maharashtra — Narali Purnima (offering coconuts to the sea god)
- West Bengal — Jhulan Yatra (the divine play of Radha-Krishna)
- North India — Kajari Purnima (celebrated alongside the harvest festival)
- South India — Avani Avittam (the day of changing the sacred thread, Janeu)
- Rajasthan — Rami Rakhi and Lumba Rakhi (special rakhi tied to sister-in-law)
Dos
- Avoid the Bhadra Kaal period
- Seek blessings from elders
- Tie the rakhi during the auspicious muhurat
- Wear clean and fresh clothes
- Follow the traditional rituals with devotion
Don'ts
- Do not tie the rakhi during Bhadra Kaal
- Avoid tying rakhi after sunset (unless within auspicious muhurat)
- Avoid using black-colored rakhis
- Do not use a broken or damaged rakhi
- Avoid anger, arguments, or disputes on this day