Hindu festival
Raksha Bandhan
Also known as Rakhi.
In short
Raksha Bandhan is the festival of the protective bond between siblings, kept on the full moon of Shravana. A sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist and he pledges to protect her — a thread standing for care, duty, and lifelong bond.
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When is Raksha Bandhan?
- This year’s date
- Set by the panchang each year from the rule below. Godify shows a specific date only once it is confirmed against an authoritative panchang — never guessed.
- Tithi / rule
- Purnima (full moon) of the month of Shravana, with the rakhi tied during the auspicious window (avoiding the Bhadra period)
- Calendar
- Lunar calendar (tithi-based)
- Deity
- Vishnu
Raksha Bandhan honours the bond of protection between siblings; the associated mantra below is a general invocation of divine protection, not a festival-specific one.
The story
Raksha Bandhan — 'the bond of protection' — celebrates the tie between brothers and sisters, and more broadly any bond of care and safeguarding. The rakhi, a simple thread, carries a promise of protection.
The festival appears across many stories of protective threads in Indian tradition, but its enduring meaning is domestic and tender: love expressed as responsibility, and a bond renewed each year.
How it’s celebrated
A sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist and applies a tilak; he offers a gift and a pledge of protection; families gather and share sweets. The thread is tied during the day's auspicious window.
A mantra to mark the day
ॐ नमो नारायणाय
oṃ namo nārāyaṇāya
I bow to Narayana (Vishnu), the refuge and resting place of all beings.
More Hindu festivals
About Raksha Bandhan
When is Raksha Bandhan?
On the Purnima (full moon) of Shravana, with the rakhi tied during the auspicious window. The exact Gregorian date is set by the panchang each year.
What does Raksha Bandhan celebrate?
The bond of love and protection between siblings — symbolised by the rakhi thread and a pledge of care.
Mark Raksha Bandhan with Bhagavan
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