Major Festival · Select a year for the Gregorian date
Raksha Bandhan: Date, Rakhi Muhurat and Shravana Purnima Guide
Sisters tie rakhi on Shravana Purnima. Select a year for the tying window and tithi.
रक्षाबंधन · · Shukla Purnima
- Muhurat (2026)
- 11:39 AM to 07:04 PM
- Hindu month
- Shravana
- Regions
- Pan-India
- Deity
- Family dharma; some tie rakhi after a short Lakshmi or household deity prayer
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) honours the duty of protection between brothers and sisters — including cousins and close friends who take the vow. It is observed on Shravana Purnima. The ritual is brief: a tilak, aarti, the sacred thread on the right wrist, sweets, and a gift from the brother. Coastal Maharashtra also observes Narali Purnima (coconut offering to the sea) on the same Purnima; South Indian Avani Avittam / Upakarma for some Brahmin communities can fall on this Purnima as well. Confirm Bhadra end time before tying rakhi in the morning.
When is Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan is on Wednesday, 29 July, 2026, Shravana Purnima. If Purnima is mixed with Bhadra in the morning, wait until Bhadra ends — the listed window 11:39 AM to 07:04 PM already reflects a cautious afternoon start for a typical IST Panchang. Sisters living in other time zones should tie rakhi while Shravana Purnima still prevails locally. Use the year selector to see any other calendar.
- Date: Wednesday, 29 July, 2026.
- Tithi: Shravana Purnima.
- Rakhi tying window: 11:39 AM to 07:04 PM IST (indicative).
How to tie rakhi
Prepare a thali with rakhi, roli/kumkum, rice, a diya, and sweets. The brother sits facing east if practical. Apply tilak, perform a short aarti, tie the rakhi on the right wrist, offer a sweet, and receive a gift or simple promise of care. The thread is a sankalpa, not a price tag — expensive gifts are optional. Postal and courier rakhis should be sent a week early. Video calls are widely accepted when siblings cannot meet; tie a rakhi on a photograph or on the wrist after the call as your custom allows.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Wait for Bhadra to end if it covers morning Purnima | Do not rush a morning rakhi during Bhadra |
| Use a simple cotton or silk rakhi | Do not treat the day only as a shopping event |
| Include cousins and chosen family if that is your custom | Do not force anyone who does not observe it |
Same Purnima, different names
Shravana Purnima is a crowded lunar day: Rakhi in much of India, Narali Purnima for Konkan fisherfolk, and Upakarma / Avani Avittam for several Brahmin groups who change the yajnopavita. These are parallel observances, not contradictions. Sanskriti differs by family; the tithi is shared.
Key sacred rituals
- Sisters tie sacred thread (Rakhi) on brothers' wrists
- Brothers give gifts and vow lifelong protection
- Applying tilak and sharing sweet treats
Frequently asked questions
When is Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan is on Friday, 28 August (Shravana Purnima).
What is the rakhi tying muhurat?
The indicative auspicious time is 01:42 PM to 08:58 PM IST on 28 August, after Bhadra. Confirm Bhadra end in your city.
Can I tie rakhi in the morning?
Only if Bhadra has ended and Purnima prevails. In the safer published window starts in the afternoon for IST.
Is Raksha Bandhan a public holiday?
It is a holiday in some Indian states, not a nationwide gazetted holiday everywhere. Check your state list.
Can rakhi be tied to friends or sisters-in-law?
Yes. Many families include cousins, close friends, and in-laws. The meaning is a pledge of care, not only a biological relation.
Muhurat times are indicative for IST and may vary by city sunrise and tithi. Confirm with Today's Panchang.