Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu holiday that celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It’s celebrated during the Hindu month of Shravana.
You can say “Happy Raksha Bandhan!” or “Happy Rakhi!” to wish someone well during this holiday.
If you’d like to write a longer greeting, QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find the right words for your message.
What is Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan comes from Sanskrit and means “the bond of protection.” This holiday celebrates the bond of protection between siblings, particularly brothers and sisters. It’s celebrated in parts of India and South Asia, in countries with a significant Hindu influence, and in diaspora communities around the world.
On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie rakhis (decorative threads or bracelets, often with amulets) around their brothers’ wrists. They also pray for their brothers’ well-being and apply a tilak (a mark made with red powder) to their brothers’ foreheads.
In return, the brother promises to protect his sister. He may also offer her a gift, which could be money, sweets, jewelry, or anything else he thinks she might like. Siblings typically wear new clothes on Raksha Bandhan and celebrate in the presence of their family.
Nowadays, the rakhi ritual isn’t limited to brothers and sisters related by blood. Raksha Bandhan can be celebrated among cousins, married couples, gurus and students, and friends. Some women even “adopt” male friends as brothers through the tying of the rakhi.
Some other Hindu holidays—like Nariyal Purnima or Kajari Purnima—fall on the same day as Raksha Bandhan, and celebrations for the holidays are sometimes merged.
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated differently in different places. For example, in areas of India where territorial exogamy (marrying outside your village or clan) is common, the holiday is an opportunity for a married woman to return to her family home to perform the rakhi ritual.
In these areas, a brother’s protection sometimes takes on another meaning. A brother may be a married woman’s intermediary between her parental and married homes, and he may be the one to intervene if she encounters challenges in her marital home.
- In the Mahabharata, the god Krishna cuts his finger and the princess Drapaudi rips off a piece of her sari to tie around his wound. In return, Krishna promises to protect her forever.
- In the Bhavishya Purana, the god Indra is preparing for battle against King Bali. His wife, Sachi, ties a thread around his wrist to protect him.
- In the Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana, King Bali asks the god Vishnu to live in his palace. Lakshmi, Vishnu’s wife, doesn’t like this arrangement, so she ties a rakhi on King Bali, making him her brother. In return, Bali grants her a wish, and Laskhmi wishes for Vishnu to return home.
When is Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan takes place on the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana, a day also known as “Shravana Purnima.” “Purnima” means “full moon day” in Sanskrit and is used in the name of other celebrations, too (e.g., Buddha Purnima).
On the Gregorian calendar, Raksha Bandhan usually falls in July or August. The date on the solar Gregorian calendar changes each year, as the Hindu calendar is lunisolar, combining lunar cycles and solar years.
Raksha Bandhan 2025
Raksha Bandhan 2025 will take place on Saturday, August 9th. Families in India, Nepal, and other countries will gather on this day to perform the rakhi-tying ritual, exchange gifts, and spend quality time together.
Happy Raksha Bandhan
If you want to wish someone a good Raksha Bandhan, you can say:
- Happy Raksha Bandhan!
- Happy Rakhi!
- Thank you for being an amazing brother/sister.
- You’re the best brother/sister in the world! Happy Raksha Bandhan!
- Our bond is stronger than any thread. I’m grateful for a brother/sister like you.
- May this thread strengthen our bond forever.
- Wishing you love, joy, and a lifelong bond.
- I’m so grateful to have a brother/sister like you!
- May this Raksha Bandhan strengthen your bond of protection and care.
- No matter how far apart we are, you’ll always be in my heart. Happy Raksha Bandhan!
- Because of you, I never have to face the world alone. Happy Raksha Banhdhan!
- On this special day, I wish you all the happiness and success in the world. Thank you for always being there for me.
- A bond that’s woven with love, trust, and endless memories. Wishing you a beautiful Raksha Bandhan, dear brother/sister.
- Here’s to many more years of laughter, adventures, and good memories together. Happy Raksha Bandhan!
- The bond between siblings is a knot that can never be untied. Happy Raksha Bandhan!
Frequently asked questions about Raksha Bandhan
- When was Raksha Bandhan 2024?
-
Raksha Bandhan 2024 was Monday, August 19th. This holiday always falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana.
In 2025, Raksha Bandhan will fall on Saturday, August 9th.
If you’d like to write a Raksha Bandhan message, use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the right words.
- What are some Raksha Bandhan quotes?
-
Some Raksha Bandhan quotes are:
- “A brother is a friend given by nature.”— Ernest Legouvé
- “Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet.” — Vietnamese Proverb
- “What strange creatures brothers are!” ― Jane Austen
You can also use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to put Raksha Bandhan wishes into your own words.
- What are the months of the Hindu calendar?
-
The months of the Hindu calendar are: Chaitra, Vaisakha, Jyeshtha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwin, Kartika, Agrahayana, Pausha, Magha, and Phalguna.
Hindu holidays align with these months, not the Gregorian months. For example, Buddha Purnima falls in Vaisakha and Raksha Bandhan falls in Shravana.
If you need to translate words related to the Hindu calendar, QuillBot Translate can handle various Indian languages.
