Raksha Bandhan is almost here, and families are preparing to celebrate the special bond between brothers and sisters with Rakhis, sweets and traditional rituals. Also known as Rakhi, the Hindu festival is observed on the full moon day, or Purnima Tithi, of the Shravana month.
In 2026, Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on Friday, Aug. 28. Those observing the festival should take note of the Rakhi-tying muhurat, Purnima Tithi, Bhadra period and traditional Puja Vidhi.
Here's everything you need to know about Raksha Bandhan 2026.
Raksha Bandhan 2026: Date
According to Drik Panchang, Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. The Purnima Tithi will begin at 9:08 a.m. on Aug. 27 and end at 9:48 a.m. on Aug. 28.
Since Hindu festival timings are calculated according to local sunrise and other Panchang factors, the exact muhurat can vary slightly from one city to another.
Raksha Bandhan 2026: Shubh Muhurat
For New Delhi, the Raksha Bandhan thread ceremony muhurat is 5:57 a.m. to 9:48 a.m. on Aug. 28, with a total duration of 3 hours and 51 minutes, according to Drik Panchang.
Drik Panchang also says Bhadra ends before sunrise, so it does not overlap with this Rakhi-tying window.
Since Panchang calculations are location-specific, families should refer to their local Panchang for the exact Rakhi-tying muhurat.
Raksha Bandhan 2026: Rakhi Timings
The Rakhi-tying muhurat varies by city because Panchang calculations take local sunrise and other factors into account.
For New Delhi, the main ceremony window is 5:57 a.m. to 9:48 a.m., while in Mumbai, it is 6:22 a.m. to 9:48 a.m., according to Drik Panchang.
Families should check the Panchang for their respective city before planning the ceremony.
Other auspicious periods, including Choghadiya timings, may occur during the day. However, these should not automatically be described as Rakhi-tying muhurtas. Families should refer to their local Panchang for city-specific timings and customs.
Rahu Kaal is traditionally considered unsuitable for starting auspicious activities. Its timing varies by location, so readers should check the Rahu Kaal for their respective city before planning the ceremony.
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Mumbai Raksha Bandhan 2026 Timings
- Raksha Bandhan: Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
- Rakhi-tying muhurat: 6:22 a.m. to 9:48 a.m.
- Purnima Tithi begins: Aug. 27 at 9:08 a.m.
- Purnima Tithi ends: Aug. 28 at 9:48 a.m.
- Bhadra: Ends before sunrise on Aug. 28
Timings may vary across cities. The Mumbai timings above are provided as a city-specific reference.
Raksha Bandhan 2026: Puja Vidhi
On Raksha Bandhan, families traditionally begin the celebrations after completing their morning rituals.
- Take a bath and wear clean clothes before beginning the ceremony.
- Prepare a puja thali with roli or kumkum, akshat (uncooked rice), a diya, sweets and the Rakhi.
- Ask the brother to sit comfortably, traditionally facing an appropriate direction according to the family's customs.
- Apply roli or kumkum tilak and akshat to the brother's forehead.
- Perform aarti and offer prayers for the brother's well-being and long life.
- Tie the Rakhi on the brother's wrist.
- Offer sweets to complete the traditional ceremony.
- The brother traditionally gives a gift to his sister as a gesture of affection and appreciation.
The exact customs can vary among families and regions, so the Puja Vidhi should be treated as a traditional guide rather than a mandatory sequence.
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