Next: 17 Aug 2027
Raksha Bandhan
Sisters tie a rakhi thread on their brothers' wrists, and brothers promise their care and a gift.
When is Raksha Bandhan in 2027?
Raksha Bandhan 2027 is on Tuesday, 17 August 2027. Other years: 2026, Friday, 28 August 2026; 2028, Saturday, 5 August 2028.
About Raksha Bandhan
On the full moon of Shravana, sisters tie a decorated thread, the rakhi, on their brothers' wrists, apply a tilak to the forehead and offer sweets. In return the brother gives a gift and promises his protection. Cousins and friends who are treated as siblings join in, and sisters who live far away send rakhis by post. The tradition is told through stories of Draupadi and Krishna, and of queens who sent threads to rulers asking for help. In some parts of India it is a day for changing the sacred thread worn by Brahmin men. Offices and shops fill with stalls of rakhis in the weeks before.
Raksha Bandhan dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Raksha Bandhan date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, 28 August 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, 17 August 2027 |
| 2028 | Saturday, 5 August 2028 |
What is eaten
- kaju katli
- rasmalai
- ghewar
Traditions of Raksha Bandhan
Also part of it, and being written: Rakhi (The woven thread tied on the wrist.), Tilak (The mark on the forehead applied at the ceremony.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Raksha Bandhan" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Bhai Dooj: SandeshLamsalNepal, CC BY-SA 4.0, source