🪢 Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) 2027
Shravana Purnima — the sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist; no rakhi during Bhadra (Bhadra time above), afternoon/Pradosh auspicious; Shravani Upakarma, Nariyal Purnima, Kajari Purnima.
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the Purnima of Shravana month — the closing day of the Mondays of Sawan. The sister applies a roli-akshat tilak on the brother's forehead, does aarti, ties the rakhi (the thread of protection) on his right wrist and feeds him sweets; the brother gives a vow of protection and a gift. It is the greatest day of the bond between brother and sister — sisters come to their parental home from their in-laws', rakhis travel by post too.
The most important rule: **no rakhi is tied during Bhadra Kaal** (the Lanka-burning/Shurpanakha story) — this year's Bhadra time and the auspicious window are above; the afternoon (Aparahna) is best, then Pradosh. The same day is the Shravani Upakarma of Brahmins (changing the sacred thread), Nariyal Purnima in Maharashtra-Goa, Kajari Purnima in central India, Avani Avittam in the south. Below are this year's date and Bhadra, vidhi, the thali samagri, katha, dishes and regional customs.
Significance — why this vrat
The thread of protection: 'Yena baddho Bali raja danavendro mahabalah, tena tvam abhibadhnami rakshe ma chala ma chala' — the thread with which Lakshmi bound King Bali is the raksha bandhan; besides the sister, a priest may tie it on the patron, a mother on her son, a wife on her husband — at its root it is the thread of 'protection', the brother-sister form became the most loved in folk tradition.
Bhadra (Vishti karana) usually falls in the first part of the day on Shravana Purnima; both rakhi and Holika Dahan are forbidden during Bhadra — Shurpanakha tied a rakhi on Ravana during Bhadra and the clan was destroyed (folk tale). Priests explain the distinction of Bhadra-mukha/puchha; the simple rule — after Bhadra ends, while the Purnima remains.
The same day is the Shravani Upakarma (the new sacred thread of Yajurvedis, the beginning of Vedic study), Hayagriva Jayanti, Sanskrit Day (India), Gayatri Jayanti (some traditions); the closing of the Amarnath Yatra (Chhari Mubarak); 'Janyopunyu' in Uttarakhand, Gamha Purnima (Balarama's birth) in Odisha, Jhulan Purnima (the end of Radha-Krishna's swing) in Bengal-Gujarat.
Puja vidhi (step by step)
This is the household vidhi — the rakhi thali, the Bhadra-free time, the order of tying, the brother's vow.
- Bathe in the morning, new/clean clothes; the first rakhi in the home temple to God (Krishna/Ganesha/Hanuman), to the Tulsi and kalash; many homes remember the ancestors too.
- The rakhi thali: roli, akshat, kumkum, lamp, rakhis, sweets, coconut/shrifal, some money, raksha thread, sandalwood; red cloth on the thali.
- Time: after the end of Bhadra above, in the afternoon (Aparahna) or Pradosh; postpone if Bhadra — if Bhadra lasts all day (rare), in Bhadra-puchha or Pradosh on a priest's advice.
- The brother sits facing east/north, a handkerchief/cap on the head; the sister applies tilak (roli-akshat), does aarti, ties the rakhi on the right wrist while saying the raksha mantra ('Yena baddho Bali raja…'), feeds sweets, gives the coconut; the brother touches the sister's feet/places a hand on her head (if younger) and gives a gift/shagun, the vow of protection.
- If the sister is far away, the rakhi by post/courier — the brother ties it himself or the sister-in-law/mother does, aarti on a video call; the rakhi shown to God first.
- When to remove the rakhi: at least until Janmashtami or before Pitru Paksha; place it in flowing water/at the root of a tree or in the safe — not in the rubbish (many homes).
- Shravani Upakarma (Brahmin families): a bath in the river/at home in the morning, the ten-fold bath, rishi tarpan, a new sacred thread; the old one in water; Gayatri japa the next day.
- Evening: the family meal — kheer/sevaiyan-ghevar; the exchange of gifts between sister and brother; if the brother goes to meet the sister at her in-laws' — 'Salono' (some regions).
Puja samagri checklist
Rakhi, roli-akshat, lamp, sweets, coconut — the full list for the thali.
- Rakhis (for the brother, a lumba for the sister-in-law, for God), raksha thread (mauli)
- Roli, akshat (rice), kumkum, sandalwood, turmeric
- Lamp (ghee), aarti thali (brass), red/yellow cloth on the thali
- Sweets (barfi-laddoo-ghevar), mishri, dry fruits
- Coconut/shrifal, some coins/notes (shagun), paan-supari
- Gift/shagun envelope (from the brother), clothes/bangles for the sister
- Shravani Upakarma: new sacred thread, sesame-barley-kusha, Gangajal, panchagavya
- Nariyal Purnima (Maharashtra): a decorated coconut, flowers; Kajari Purnima: the barley kalash
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Open panchang →Vrat katha (the story)
Indrani and Indra: in the war of gods and demons Indra, king of the gods, began to lose; on Guru Brihaspati's advice Indrani (Shachi) consecrated a raksha thread on Shravana Purnima and tied it on Indra's wrist — Indra was victorious. This is the first story of the raksha thread — the bond of protection.
Lakshmi and Bali: Vamana gave King Bali the netherworld, and Vishnu became his gatekeeper. Lakshmi went to Bali as a Brahmin woman, tied a rakhi on Shravana Purnima and became his sister, and asked as her gift 'return my husband' — Bali freed Vishnu. The raksha mantra 'Yena baddho Bali raja…' comes from this.
Draupadi and Krishna: in the slaying of Shishupala the Sudarshan cut Krishna's finger; Draupadi tore the end of her sari and bound it — Krishna vowed 'I will repay the debt of every thread' — in the disrobing her sari became endless. In folk history Rani Karnavati (Chittor) sent a rakhi to Humayun; the story of Yama and Yamuna (linked to Bhai Dooj) is told too.
Ghevar, sevaiyan, kheer, narali bhaat — the rakhi kitchen
Raksha Bandhan is not a fasting day but a day of festive food — ghevar-feeni in Rajasthan-Haryana, kheer-poori-halwa-sevaiyan in the north, narali bhaat in Maharashtra, Jhulan sweets in Bengal; the sister cooks the brother's favourite dish, that is the custom.
- Ghevar (Rajasthan-Haryana-Braj — the sweet of Sawan, malai/rabdi ghevar), feeni
- Kheer (of rice/vermicelli), sweet sevaiyan, halwa-poori-kachori, dahi-bhalle
- Narali bhaat (sweet rice with coconut, jaggery and saffron — Maharashtra-Goa, Nariyal Purnima), modak
- Laddoo-barfi-kaju katli, gujiya (some regions), coconut laddoo
- South (Avani Avittam): payasam, vada, poli; Bengal (Jhulan): sandesh-rasgulla; Bihar: kheer-poori
Regional customs
The rakhi of the north, the Narali Purnima of Maharashtra, the Avani Avittam of the south, the Gamha of Odisha — one Purnima, many forms.
A custom, tale, song or dish heard from your grandmother — 2-4 lines; after reading we add it on this page with your region's name (the phone is never shown — only to ask you back).
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✅ Do
- Tie the rakhi only after avoiding Bhadra — this year's Bhadra time above; afternoon/Pradosh best
- The first rakhi to God, then on the brother's right wrist; say the raksha mantra
- A gift/shagun and the vow of protection for the sister; a lumba for the sister-in-law (Rajasthan custom)
- Remove the rakhi with respect — water/root of a tree/the safe; wear it until Janmashtami
- The sacred-thread Upakarma and rishi tarpan in Brahmin families; Gayatri japa the next day
❌ Don't
- No rakhi during Bhadra; avoid Rahukaal too (above)
- No broken/black/cheap decorative rakhi (some homes consider it forbidden) — a clean cotton thread is best
- Do not send the sister back empty-handed; no tilak for the brother with the left hand
- No throwing the rakhi in the rubbish; no quarrel between sister and brother that day
- Heavy plastic-foam rakhis in the market — choose safe ones for children
Frequently asked questions
When is Raksha Bandhan in 2027 and until when is Bhadra?
This year's Shravana Purnima date, the Bhadra Kaal (start-end) and the auspicious window for tying the rakhi are above for Delhi — tie after Bhadra in the afternoon/Pradosh; check your city's panchang.
Why no rakhi during Bhadra?
Bhadra (Vishti karana) is regarded as the sister of Shani — an inauspicious period; in the folk tale Shurpanakha tied a rakhi on Ravana during Bhadra and Lanka was destroyed. Rakhi and Holika Dahan are forbidden in Bhadra; some priests permit it in Bhadra-puchha as an exception.
If there is no brother, whom to tie the rakhi on?
On God (Krishna/Ganesha/Hanuman), the father/cousins, an adopted brother, or the raksha thread on any protector — a priest on the patron, a wife on the husband, a sister on a sister too; the root idea is the 'bond of protection'.
When and how to remove the rakhi?
At least until Janmashtami or before Pitru Paksha; after removing, in flowing water/at the root of a tree, or keep it in the safe all year and replace it with the new rakhi next year — not in the rubbish.
What is Shravani Upakarma?
The Yajurvedi Brahmins' wearing of the year's new sacred thread (janeu), rishi tarpan and the beginning of Vedic study — on Shravana Purnima (Avani Avittam in the south, on the Shravana nakshatra day for Rigvedis); Gayatri japa (1008) the next day. If Bhadra/an eclipse falls, the date changes — panchang/priest.
What is Nariyal Purnima?
In Maharashtra-Goa-Konkan on this same Shravana Purnima the fisherfolk offer coconuts to Varuna, god of the sea — the sea is calm after the monsoon, boats set out again; narali bhaat is made; rakhis are tied too.
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⚠️ This description follows traditional vidhi and folk belief; the custom of your family and region comes first. The Bhadra time shifts by a few minutes by city — confirm with a panchang/priest.
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