Raksha Bandhan, the festival of the bond between brothers and sisters, falls in 2026 on Friday, 28 August — the full-moon day of Sawan, Shravan Purnima. On this day a sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist and prays for his wellbeing, and the brother offers his lifelong protection in return.
The one thing every family asks is the muhurat — and here 2026 is unusually simple. There is no Bhadra on 28 August at all, so there is no anxious wait for it to end. The clear, auspicious window is the morning, while the Purnima tithi is still running. Below is the exact timing for New Delhi, and the reason the festival is observed on the 28th rather than the 27th.
Raksha Bandhan 2026 at a glance
Festival date
Friday, 28 August 2026
Occasion
Shravan Purnima
Rakhi muhurat
05:57 AM – 09:50 AM IST
Bhadra on 28th
None — the whole morning is clear
Sunrise
≈ 05:57 AM (New Delhi)
Purnima ends
09:50 AM on 28 Aug
The rakhi-tying muhurat — morning of 28 August
Bhadra-free, while the Purnima tithi is still current
Rakhi Muhurat · 28 August 2026
05:57 AM – 09:50 AM
Bhadra-free · the whole morning is auspicious
Tie the rakhi in the morning of 28 August, any time between sunrise at about 05:57 AM and 09:50 AM IST. Throughout this window the Purnima tithi is still running and there is no Bhadra, so the entire morning is auspicious. Because the tithi changes to Pratipada at 09:50 AM, there is no separate afternoon (Aparahna) muhurat this year — do not wait for one. If the morning slips by, the customary observance still holds within the Purnima, but the clean, shastra-approved window is that morning span.
Why the 28th, and the Bhadra rule
Purnima starts on the 27th, but so does Bhadra
The Purnima tithi begins on 27 August at 09:10 AM. But Bhadra — the portion of the tithi in which a rakhi must never be tied — also begins at 09:10 AM on the 27th and lasts until about 09:34 PM that night. By long tradition, drawn from the story of Ravana having a rakhi tied during Bhadra, the thread is tied only after Bhadra ends. On 28 August there is no Bhadra whatsoever, and the Purnima is still current until 09:50 AM. So the festival is observed on the 28th, in a morning that is completely clear.
More on Bhadra Kaal
The precise tithi & Bhadra timeline
New Delhi / IST, validated from panchang
How to tie the rakhi — the vidhi
A simple, traditional sequence
Prepare the puja thali with roli (kumkum), unbroken rice (akshat), a lamp, sweets and the rakhi.
The brother sits facing east or north. The sister applies a tilak of roli and akshat on his forehead.
She then ties the rakhi on his right wrist, praying for his long life and wellbeing.
Perform aarti, offer sweets, and the brother gives a gift and the promise of protection.
The meaning of Raksha Bandhan
The thread of protection
Raksha Bandhan means 'the bond of protection'. The rakhi is not merely a thread but a vow: the sister's prayer for her brother's long life, and the brother's promise to stand by her. Celebrated on Shravan Purnima, it also closes the Sawan month of Shiva devotion. Beyond siblings by birth, the thread is tied wherever there is a relationship of care and duty, which is why it has become one of the most widely kept festivals across India.
Check the timings for your own city
These times are for New Delhi. Sunrise and the tithi end can shift by several minutes in other cities — check your local panchang before you tie the rakhi.
Frequently asked questions
Raksha Bandhan 2026 date, muhurat and Bhadra