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Raksha Bandhan in Jaipur: rakhis, lumbas and the walled-city bazaars
A thread of love, a vow of protection
Raksha Bandhan is tied at home, so what Jaipur shows a visitor is the run-up in the walled city: Johari Bazaar and Purohit Ji Ka Katla hung with rakhis and lumbas, and sweet shops selling out of ghevar. The festival falls on the Shravana full moon, 17 August 2027. In Jaipur the thread often comes in pairs: besides the rakhi for the brother, Marwari families tie a lumba to his wife’s bangle.
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.
Where to watch
Johari Bazaar and Purohit Ji Ka Katla: rakhis and lumbas by the thousand, from kundan and pearl to threads with Rajasthani greetings. Walled city, from Sanganeri Gate towards Badi Chaupar.
Bapu Bazaar: textiles, juttis and gift stalls under the arcades. By Sanganeri Gate.
Walled-city sweet shops: ghevar, the honeycomb disc of fried batter in syrup that belongs to the monsoon festivals, sells out on the eve. Along Johari Bazaar and around Badi Chaupar.
Free viewing
- Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar on the eve of the festival
- The rakhi stalls around Badi Chaupar
- Hawa Mahal and the street in front of it
How the day runs in Jaipur
On the full moon sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists, mark their foreheads and feed them sweets, and brothers promise protection. The thread also goes to cousins and friends. The tying happens at the hour of the muhurta, the auspicious window set by the almanac, which in some years falls in the evening.
The Jaipur detail is the lumba: a hanging ornament, from simple thread to kundan and pearl, that Marwari families tie to the bangle of the brother’s wife. The bazaars sell both side by side.
It is a family festival rather than a street spectacle. An invitation from a local family is the best way to see it, and a box of sweets (mithai) is the usual guest’s gift. Many offices and shops close or work short hours on the day. More about the festival itself: Raksha Bandhan.
Where to buy rakhis and lumbas
The walled city is the place, and the bazaars are fullest the day before. All of these are free to walk; the Pink Line metro to Badi Chaupar stops within walking distance.
Johari Bazaar and Purohit Ji Ka Katla
Rakhis and lumbas by the thousand, from kundan and pearl to threads with Rajasthani greetings, between Sanganeri Gate and Badi Chaupar. See Johari Bazaar.
Bapu Bazaar
Textiles, juttis and gift stalls under the arcades by Sanganeri Gate. See Bapu Bazaar.
Badi Chaupar and Hawa Mahal
Rakhi stalls stand around the square, and the street in front of Hawa Mahal is one of the places to watch the festival crowd.
Ghevar in the sweet shops
A honeycomb disc of fried batter in syrup that belongs to the monsoon festivals; it sells out on the eve along Johari Bazaar and around Badi Chaupar. More: sweets of Jaipur.
Travel and where to stay
August is monsoon and low season in Jaipur: about 10 rainy days in the month, with highs around 33°C. One or two nights are enough.
- About a month ahead: trains
The rooms are easy, the transport is not. In past years, according to press reports, the Rajasthan government has made state roadways (RSRTC) buses free for women within the state for Raksha Bandhan, and the buses ran packed. Whether this applies is announced shortly before the festival, so check RSRTC news then.
- The day before: arrive
The eve is when the bazaars are fullest; on the day itself the city goes indoors to family meals.
- Stay in or near the walled city
Around Hawa Mahal, Chandpole or MI Road, within walking distance of the bazaars. In low season heritage havelis inside the walls are easier to find than in winter. More: where to stay in Jaipur.
- Teej in the same monsoon
Jaipur’s other monsoon festival, Teej, comes earlier: 4–5 August 2027.
FAQ
When is Raksha Bandhan in Jaipur?
On the Shravana full moon, 17 August 2027. The rakhi is tied in the muhurta window set by the almanac, which in some years falls in the evening.
Where can I buy rakhis in Jaipur?
In the walled city: Johari Bazaar and Purohit Ji Ka Katla for rakhis and lumbas, Bapu Bazaar for gifts and textiles, and the stalls around Badi Chaupar.
What is a lumba?
A hanging rakhi that Marwari families tie to the bangle of the brother’s wife, alongside the rakhi on the brother’s wrist.
What is famous in Jaipur for gifting on Rakhi?
Rakhis and lumbas from the walled-city bazaars, and ghevar, the monsoon sweet that sells out on the eve.
Sources (2)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.