Raksha Bandhan 2024 Date, Ritual, & Rakhi Festival & Celebration Timing

Raksha Bandhan 2024: Rakhi Festival Of Brothers And Sisters On Monday, August 19, 2024

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India, a country that beholds rich history and culture, is the land that is known to celebrate and cherish pivotal events. These events form the most golden chapters of our history that we refer to as festivals. Occurred in different eras, our festivals are not just events but they are pedagogues that teach us significant lessons. They help us to stay close to our roots and to our culture. One such significant and most celebrated and most awaited festival that is celebrated across the nation is ‘Raksha Bandhan’. This celebration is also known as Rakhi Purnima because it occurs on a full moon day during the sacred month of Shravana. The Rakhi festival is a celebration of the deep bond that exists between a brother and sister, and it is traditionally marked by the exchange of a beautiful 'Rakhi' that has been handcrafted.

Raksha Bandhan, also abbreviated to Rakhi or Rakhri, is a Hindu festival that celebrates the sister-brother relationship and the love between them. Raksha signifies protection, whereas bandhan is the verb to tie. To commemorate their relationship, sisters traditionally tie a rakhi, a bracelet made of interwoven red and gold threads, around their brothers' wrists during the festival.

Nevertheless, the Raakhi commemorative act goes far beyond the protection of a female from a male on a personal level. It also connotes the fundamental element of an good-natured and harmonious social life in which all members of society consider themselves to be siblings and offspring of a single motherland. Therefore, rakhi is a celebration of brotherhood and love.

Why Raksha Bandhan Is Celebrated?

Raksha Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the unconditional bond of love, protection and care between brother and sister. It is celebrated to cherish this bond and to restore the love each has for one another. Our rich culture and history thus form a ground of evidence that even in the past people came closer and bonded as brother and sister through this simple yet powerful ceremony of Raksha Bandhan.

When Is ‘Raksha Bandhan’ Celebrated This Year? Rakhi Muhurat & Tithi

This year the auspicious festival of Raksha Bandhan 2024 will fall on Monday, August 19, 2024.

The Rakhi Muhurat or the Raksha Bandhan Muhurat of the year 2024 is as follows:

Raksha Bandhan Thread Ceremony Time - 01:30 PM to 09:08 PM
Duration - 07 Hours 38 Mins
Aparahna Time Raksha Bandhan Muhurat - 01:43 PM to 04:20 PM
Duration - 02 Hours 37 Mins
Pradosh Time Raksha Bandhan Muhurat - 06:56 PM to 09:08 PM
Duration - 02 Hours 11 Mins
Raksha Bandhan Bhadra End Time - 01:30 PM
Raksha Bandhan Bhadra Punchha - 09:51 AM to 10:53 AM
Raksha Bandhan Bhadra Mukha - 10:53 AM to 12:37 PM
Purnima Tithi Begins - 03:04 AM on Aug 19, 2024
Purnima Tithi Ends - 11:55 PM on Aug 19, 2024

Rakhi Muhurat means the time to perform the Thread Ceremony which is, to tie the Rakhi on the wrist of your brother. Time plays a significant role as per Hindu calendar. Certain time period is considered as auspicious and certain inauspicious. Hence performing the Rakhi ceremony as per the Rakhsha Bandhan subh Muhurat is important.

Aparahna (late afternoon) is considered as the best time during the Raksha Bandhan day to perform the thread ceremony or the tying of Rakhi. If Aparahna time is not available then Pradosh time is also suitable to perform rituals related to Raksha Bandhan.Make sure you do not perform the ceremony of Rakhi purnima during the Bhadra period. Bhadra is considered to be inauspicious time.

During the first half of Purnima Tithi, the Bhadra tithi prevails. Therefore, it is advisable to wait for Bhadra to get over before performing the auspicious ceremony of Raksha Bandhan. Thus, the Raksha Bandhan day is a much awaited day by the sisters as they are showered with gifts and a promise to be protected by their brothers and like.

Rakhi Festival Meaning

Rakhi Purnima denotes caring and safeguarding. In Sanskrit, the word ‘Raksha’ means ‘protection’ and the word ‘Bandhan’ means ‘bond’. Thus, Raksha Bandhan is an auspicious Hindu festival which is celebrated since ancient times. It is the most symbolic interpretation of the purest bond of love and togetherness between siblings.

It is believed that when a woman ties a rakhi around a man's hand, he is commited to fulfill his religious duty and protect her. This protection is an act of affection and love that is celebrated on the Raksha Bandhan. The celebration is centered on relationships. This applies to all Indian festivals. Every celebration brings families together. The mere act of getting together is festive. It requires an entirely joyful setting. Raksha Bandhan, the celebration of the relationship between brothers and sisters, is an example of such a festival. India is the only country where the sibling bond is so revered. Here, more than anywhere else, the brother-sister bond is profoundly revered.

Rakshaa Bandhan evokes one of the most profound and virtuous feelings in the human heart: the enduring and virtuous bond of love between the brother and the sister. This sublime emotion pulses through the delicate cord that the sister tied around her brother's wrist on this day. Not only do the participants in the function develop a sense of love and affection amongst themselves but they also affirm their loyalty and devotion to the society of which they are the children. Their commitment to protect each other and also the society as a whole is emphasized through this simple ceremony.

In the Hindu tradition the Rakshaa has indeed assumed all aspects of protection of the forces of righteousness from the forces of evil. It is not merely that the spirit of Rakshaa manifests itself on occasions of mortal peril to the life and honor of the beloved ones or to the society. Not like the Home Guard or the militia, who are expected to come to the aid of the people during war or natural disasters.

No, it is much more profound and comprehensive. It is comparable to the flow of blood through each limb and organ of the body, delivering strength and nourishment to each cell. Consequently, even a minor wound in any part of the body is promptly treated by the entire body. Every other limb spontaneously contributes blood and energy to heal the wound and maintain the organ's health and vitality.

Rakhi Festival Celebration

Rakhi day starts during rakhi muhurat and then during sunrise with a festive mood in every Indian home. Rakhis are made or bought a day before the festival. Traditional goodies and dishes are prepared early in the morning. After an early bath, the offering Puja (worshipping of god) takes place. The sister then offers 'aarti' (a traditional way of worshipping) to her brother and ties the thread on his right wrist. Traditional 'tilak' or vermilion powder on the forehead of the brother is put and the brother blesses the sister. Once the rakhi has been knotted, either a Sanskrit mantra is uttered, followed by a prayer for happiness and prosperity.

The tradition of giving presents is also an important part of this family festival. After she ties the Rakhi on his wrist, the brother gives his sister a gift. This gift demonstrates the brother's love and affection for his sister. Occasionally, sisters will also request a memorable gift of their choosing. However, the sister's blessing for her brother and the protection he guarantees are regarded as the greatest gift of the festival. The prepared foods are then presented to her brother and the rest of her family. The rituals are performed with dedication and devotion.

At the end of the ceremony, the sister consumes a sweet. Then, her brother presents her with a small monetary token of appreciation. This celebration has expanded over the years to include the significance of many Hindu society members, but it continues to honor and preserve the bond between brothers and sisters. In accordance with these customs, it is believed that the rakhi will cleanse one hand of sin and safeguard the other. It is also believed that a rakhi's protection will last for one year.

Today Rakhi has transcended the confines of the family. It is tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbors, thereby emphasizing the need for a harmonious social life, where every individual co-exist peacefully as brothers and sisters. It won't be wrong to say the fashionable friendship band in vogue today is an extension of the Rakhi custom. When a girl feels a friend of the opposite sex has developed a kind of love too strong for her to reciprocate, she sends the guy a Rakhi and turns the relationship into a sisterly one. This is one way of saying, 'let's just be friends', without hurting the other person's soft feelings for her.

Well, irrespective of how it started and what it implies in the new age, there is no doubt that Rakhi is the time for bonding of love. So come along and make this Rakhi a time to remember for your brother and yourself.

Rakhi Puja Vidhi

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Performing this Vedic puja on Raksha Bandhan is highly powerful and auspicious. A special Yagya and Home are performed to bless the brother and the sister. The puja includes Kalash Sthapana, Panchang Sthapana (Gauri Ganesh, Punyavachan, Shodash Matrika, Navgraha, Sarvotabhadra), 64 yogini Pujan, Shetrapal Pujan, Swasti Vachan, Sankalpa, Ganesh Pujan and Abhishek, Navgraha Pujan and 108 chants of each planetary mantra, Invocation of major Gods and Goddesses in Kalash, Recitation of Vishnu Sahasranamam Japa (108 times), Recitation of Laxmi Shri Suktam(9 times), Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra Japa(2100 chants), Havan, Aarti and Pushpanjali to complete the rituals.

Other Important Pujas

Ayush Homam

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Performing Ayush Homam on Raksha Bandhan is highly auspicious for the family. It is performed to get blessings from Ayur Devta, the God of life. By performing this homa, one can be able to ensure a healthy and long living life. You can perform it on the birthdays based on the stars. Those who want to get relief from mental and physical health problems can organize Ayush homa for living a better life.

Benefits of this puja:

• Best fort eliminating health risks.
• Cures heath diseases and removes obstacles
• Reduces the bad effects of planets to minimize accidents, injuries and major health threats.

Puja For Good Luck And Fortune

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You can also get Puja for Good Luck and Fortune performed on Raksha Bandhan. It attracts auspiciousness and abundance into your life. In this Puja all the deities associated with fortune, wealth, obstacles removal and aiding work and business are worshipped. Blessings from Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Lakshmi Kuber ensure removal of obstacles, profitability and increase in materialistic possessions.

Benefits of this puja:

• Best for attracting good luck into your life
• Brings in more abundance
• Removals all the obstacles holding your projects back.

Raksha Bandhan History And Legends

There are numerous old legends related with the history of Raksha Bandhan and its celebrations. Various Vedic sacred texts, for example, Puranas, Bhagvat Purana (Srimad Bhagvatam), Mahabharata and such illuminate you with stories that talk about the beautiful and strong bond of love, care and protection between brothers and sisters.

Puranas mention an ancient story about a ghastly war between the thunder god Indra and the demonic king Bali who administered his leadership across the earth. Lord Vishnu offered a divine thread to Indra's wife Sachi who tied it on Indra's wrist. This made him win Amaravati, the place taken over by Bali. However, this story reveals the deeper power of a holy thread and the ceremony of Raksha Bandhan which was beyond the relationship between brothers and sisters.

In the Bhagvat Purana, it is mentioned that King Bali unable to defeat Lord Vishnu surrendered unto His lotus feet and requested Him to reside at his place. Goddess Lakshmi was upset seeing the Lord accepting a request from a demonic mind (Bali) as She did not like King Bali for he was a demon. She tied a holy thread on Bali's wrist and wished that he protect Her as a brother. King Bali gladly accepted Her as his sister and asked Her to wish anything that pleased Her. She without a second thought asked for the Lord and requested His presence in Her abode. King Bali without fail fulfilled Her wish. This is how Raksha Bandhan festival came into being.

In the epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna while fighting and killing Shishupal got a cut on His finger. Draupadi immediately ripped a piece of her sari and covered the cut by tying it around the finger. Pleased with her action full of devotion, the Lord promised to reciprocate. When she was left at stake by her husbands, the Pandavas in a gamble against the Kauravas who decide to strip her naked, she prayed to Lord Krishna for help. The Lord protected her chastity by supply cloth to her sari that never ended while being taken off her body. This is how the Lord became her brother and people started observing Raksha Bandhan on the auspicious Full Moon Day.

According to the famous Raksha Bandhan story, Goddess Yamuna always tied a sacred thread on Lord Yama's (God of death) wrist on the tithe of Shravana Purnima. Pleased by this custom, Lord Yama announced that any man who has a ‘rakhi’ tied on his wrist by his sister would be saved and he would become immortal. Thus, the tradition of tying Rakhi on the wrist of the brother has been practiced across the nations and across religions.

In the Bhavishya Purana, Rakhi refers to a battle between gods and demons. Indra (the king of the gods) was feeling dejected, so his wife Sachi took a thread, charged it with sacred verses (Mantras) for protection and tied it on Indra's hand. The strength of this thread helped Indra to conquer his enemies. This festival is celebrated since then.

History and legends of Bharat abound in touching episodes of ladies seeking protection from far-off, unacquainted heroes, through the Raakhi. The congregational Raakhi function carries this social content. Particularly, the tying of Raakhi to the sacred Bhagavaa Dhwaj at the start of the function signifies this social and cultural aspect.

During the medieval era, Rajputs were fighting Muslim invasions. Rakhi at that time meant a spiritual binding between siblings and the protection of sisters was foremost. A famous incident relates how rakhi broke religious barriers. When Rani Karnawati, the widowed Queen of the King of Chittor realized that she could in no way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun. The gesture moved the Emperor so much that he immediately dispatched his troops to Chittor's aid.

The earliest mention of the rakhi festival dates back to Alexander's invasion of India in 300 B.C. It is said that the great conqueror, King Alexander of Macedonia was shaken by the fury of the Indian King Puru in his first attempt. Upset by this, Alexander's wife, who had heard of the Rakhi festival, approached King Puru. King Puru accepted her as his sister and when the opportunity came during the war, he refrained from harming Alexander.

Regional Variations Of Rakhi

While Raksha Bandhan is celebrated throughout India, the holiday is observed differently in different regions.

In West Bengal, this date is also known as Jhulan Purnima. There, Krishna and Radha are prayed to and worshipped. Sisters tie rakhi to brothers and wish for their eternal life. This day is celebrated by political parties, offices, friends, and educational institutions with renewed optimism for a good relationship.

In Maharashtra, Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Pournima is celebrated alongside Narali Pournima among the Koli community (coconut day festival). Kolis are the coastal state's fishing community. The fishermen pray to Varuna, the Hindu god of the sea, to invoke his blessings and then throw coconuts into the water as offerings. As elsewhere, girls and women tie rakhi on their brothers' wrists.

In many regions of northern India, it is customary to fly kites on the occasions of Janamashtami and Raksha Bandhan, which are close together. The locals purchase kilometers of sturdy kite string, known as gattu door in the local language, as well as an abundance of kites.

In Odisha, Raksha Bandhan is also called Rakhi Purnima or Gamha Purnima. As a sign of love and respect, a sister ties rakhi around her brother's wrist, and he promises to protect his sister from all dangers. The name Gamha Purnima refers to the celebration of Lord Balabhadra's birthday on the same day; farmers in Odisha tie rakhis to their livestock on this day.

In Nepal, Raksha Bandhan is known as Janai Purnima or Rishitarpani and involves a ceremony involving a sacred thread. It is observed by both Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal. In some regions of Nepal, women and girls tie rakhi on their brothers' wrists, whereas Hindu men change the thread they wear around their chests (janai). Other Hindus of Nepal observe the Raksha Bandhan-like brother-sister festival on one of the days of the Tihar (or Diwali) festival.

Significance Of Rakhi Muhurat:

Rakhi Muhurat means the time to perform the Thread Ceremony which is, to tie the Rakhi on the wrist of your brother. Time plays a significant role as per Hindu calendar. Certain time period is considered as auspicious and certain inauspicious. Hence performing the Rakhi ceremony as per the Rakhsha Bandhan subh Muhurat is important.

Aparahna (late afternoon) is considered as the best time during the Raksha Bandhan day to perform the thread ceremony or the tying of Rakhi. If Aparahna time is not available then Pradosh time is also suitable to perform rituals related to Raksha Bandhan.

Make sure you do not perform the ceremony of Rakhi purnima during the Bhadra period. Bhadra is considered to be inauspicious time.

During the first half of Purnima Tithi, the Bhadra tithi prevails. Therefore, it is advisable to wait for Bhadra to get over before performing the auspicious ceremony of Raksha Bandhan.Thus, the Raksha Bandhan day is a much awaited day by the sisters as they are showered with gifts and a promise to be protected by their brothers and like.