India GORaksha Bandhan (Rakhi): what the day means and what a visitor sees
A thread of love, a vow of protection
Raksha Bandhan, "the bond of protection", is the day a sister ties a rakhi (a decorated thread) on her brother's wrist and he promises to protect her. It falls on the full moon of Shravana: 17 August in 2027, 5 August in 2028. It is one of the warmest days of the Hindu year and one of the least public: the tying happens at home, so what a visitor sees is the run-up, bazaars hung with thousands of rakhis, and on the west coast a fishermen's festival of the sea.
The bond between brothers and sisters: a sacred thread tied for love and protection
The full moon of Shravana. The central government's restricted list, issued around July of the year before, confirms it.
The legend
In the Bhavishya Purana, Krishna tells Yudhishthira of a rite: on the full moon of Shravana, a raksha, a protective charm, is tied on the king's wrist.
The priest says: "I bind protection on you, as I bound Mahabali, king of the asuras. Stay firm."
Folk tradition adds its own tale: Draupadi once bound Krishna's cut hand with a strip torn from her sari.
Krishna promised to repay her, and kept his word when he protected her honour.
So a thread on the wrist is a vow of protection: on the Shravana full moon, sisters tie it on their brothers.
Meaning
Maharashtra
For the Koli fishing community it is Narali Purnima: coconuts are thrown into the sea to ask the blessing of Varuna, god of the waters.
Bengal
Here it is also Jhulan Purnima, a day of prayers to Radha and Krishna.
Odisha
Gamha Purnima, the birthday of Balabhadra, patron of farming.
Customs
Rakhi
A sister ties a decorated thread on her brother's wrist, marks his forehead with tilak and prays for his wellbeing.
🎁 The gift
The brother gives a gift and vows to protect his sister for life, and then the family sits down to sweets.
📮 Rakhi by post
Siblings who live apart post rakhis across the country and abroad.
Rakhi bazaars
A week ahead the markets overflow with rakhis, from plain thread to silver and beadwork.
What people eat
🍯 Ghewar
a honeycomb disc of batter in syrup, a Raksha Bandhan sweet
🍬 Mithai
a box of sweets to seal the vow
Words of the festival
राखी
rakhi
the protective thread a sister ties on her brother
रक्षाबंधन
Raksha Bandhan
"the bond of protection"
तिलक
tilak
the mark on the forehead that blesses
श्रावण
Shravana
the monsoon month; the festival is on its full moon
True or myth
✅ True. The day Bengal was partitioned fell on Raksha Bandhan, and Rabindranath Tagore urged Hindus and Muslims to tie rakhis on each other as a sign of unity.
❌ Myth. The Roxana and Porus story was written for the 1941 film Sikandar, yet it still circulates as "ancient".
❌ Myth. Rakhis go to cousins, friends and even soldiers, creating chosen kinship across caste and faith.
Where to celebrate
Delhi
The rakhi is tied at home, so what Delhi shows is the run-up: Sadar Bazaar and Chandni Chowk hung with thousands of rakhis, and Old Delhi's sweet shops at full stretch.
Jaipur
In Jaipur the thread comes in pairs: besides the rakhi for the brother, Marwari families tie a lumba to his wife's bangle, and the walled-city bazaars sell both by the thousand.
Mumbai
On the Mumbai coast the Shravan full moon is Narali Purnima: Koli fishing villages paint coconuts gold, carry them to the sea for Varuna and take their boats out again after the monsoon.
What happens on the day
The family gathers in the morning. The sister marks her brother's forehead with tilak (a blessing mark), ties the rakhi on his wrist and prays for his wellbeing; he gives her a gift and vows to protect her, and then everyone sits down to sweets and a festive meal. The thread is tied in a muhurta (an auspicious time window) that avoids the inauspicious period called Bhadra, so in some years the tying moves to the evening; the window is published in the panchang (almanac).
The bond is wider than blood. Rakhis go to cousins, close friends, neighbours and soldiers, and in 1905, when Bengal was partitioned on Raksha Bandhan, Rabindranath Tagore urged Hindus and Muslims to tie rakhis on each other. Siblings who live apart post rakhis across the country and abroad.
For a visitor the useful thing to know is that many offices and shops close or run short hours on the day, and by afternoon cities have gone indoors to family lunches.
Where to see it
The bazaars are fullest on the eve and the morning of the festival.
Delhi
Before the festival the lanes near Sadar Bazaar's Hanuman temple turn into a rakhi market of dozens of shops, and [Chandni Chowk](/en/delhi/chandni-chowk/) with Kinari Bazaar sells handmade rakhis and tinsel. Old Delhi's sweet shops are at full stretch with ghevar, a honeycomb disc of fried batter in syrup that belongs to the monsoon festivals. Details: [Raksha Bandhan in Delhi](/en/festivals/raksha-bandhan/delhi/).
Jaipur
Here the thread comes in pairs: besides the rakhi for the brother, Marwari families tie a lumba to his wife's bangle. Johari Bazaar and Purohit Ji Ka Katla sell both by the thousand, from kundan and pearl to threads with Rajasthani greetings, and ghevar sells out on the eve.
Mumbai coast
The same full moon is Narali Purnima for the Koli fishing community: coconuts painted gold are carried to the sea for Varuna, god of the waters, and boats dressed in flags go out again after the monsoon. Versova Koliwada, Badhwar Park in Colaba, and the Mahim and Worli koliwadas. It is a working community's festival: watch from the edge and ask before photographing families.
✅ Etiquette and practicalities
- If invited — An invitation to a family's Raksha Bandhan is the best way to see it. Bring a box of mithai (sweets).
- Rakhis as souvenirs — Handmade rakhis from the bazaars in the week before make small, light souvenirs.
- Travel — Raksha Bandhan is one of the busiest short-haul travel days in the north, as siblings cross states; book trains about a month ahead. In Rajasthan state buses have been free for women on the day, so they run packed.
- Rooms and weather — No special lead time for rooms: August is monsoon and low season in Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai. Expect heat, humidity and rain.
❓ FAQ
When is Raksha Bandhan in 2027?
Tuesday 17 August 2027, the full moon of Shravana. In 2028 it falls on 5 August, in 2029 on 23 August.
What is Raksha Bandhan?
A Hindu festival of siblings: a sister ties a rakhi thread on her brother's wrist and prays for him, and he gives a gift and vows to protect her. Rakhis are also tied on cousins, friends and others as chosen kin.
What is the story behind Raksha Bandhan?
The Bhavishya Purana describes a protective charm tied on a king's wrist on the Shravana full moon. Folk tradition adds that Draupadi once bound Krishna's cut hand with a strip of her sari, and he repaid her by protecting her honour.
Is the Porus and Roxana rakhi story true?
No. The tale of a rakhi sent to King Porus was written for the 1941 film Sikandar, though it still circulates as ancient.
Are shops closed on Raksha Bandhan?
Many offices and shops close or run short hours, and by afternoon most people are at family lunches. Markets are busiest the day before and early on the day itself.