Raksha Bandhan Date 2026: Know when to celebrate Rakhi, shubh muhurat, Purnima tithi and rituals

Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is an auspicious festival celebrated annually during the Shravana month on the full moon day, or Purnima. The festival celebrates the special bond shared between brothers and sisters.

Popularly called Rakhi, Raksha Bandhan is among India’s most beloved festivals, honouring the bond of love, care and protection between siblings. On this occasion, sisters tie the sacred thread, Rakhi, around their brothers’ wrists and pray for their health, happiness and prosperity. Brothers, in turn, promise to stand by and protect their sisters through the different challenges and stages of life.

Raksha Bandhan 2026 Date

Raksha Bandhan is observed annually on the Purnima, or full moon day, of the Hindu month of Shravana. In 2026, the festival will be celebrated on Friday, August 28.

Raksha Bhandhan Shubh Muhurat 2026
According to Drik Panchang, Raksha Bandhan 2026 will be celebrated on August 28. The Purnima Tithi will begin at 9:08 am on August 27 and conclude at 9:48 am on August 28. In New Delhi, the auspicious Rakhi-tying muhurat will be from 5:57 am to 9:48 am on August 28, giving families more than three and a half hours to perform the ceremony and celebrate the festival together.

Simple Raksha Bandhan Rituals

• Prepare the Thali: Arrange a festive thali with a lit diya, kumkum, akshat (rice grains), sweets and the Rakhi.
• Apply Tilak: Apply kumkum and a few rice grains to his forehead as a traditional blessing.
• Tie the Rakhi: Tie the sacred Rakhi around your brother’s right wrist while praying for his happiness, health and well-being.
• Offer Sweets: Feed each other sweets as part of the celebration and to symbolise happiness and sweetness in the sibling bond.
• Exchange Gifts: Brothers traditionally give gifts or cash to their sisters as a gesture of love, while reaffirming their promise of lifelong support.