Raksha Bandhan 2027 date and the best time to tie rakhi

Raksha Bandhan 2027 falls on Tuesday, 17 August. In good news for families, the inauspicious period called Bhadra ends before sunrise that day, so sisters can tie rakhi any time from the morning until about 12:58 PM, when the full-moon day ends in Delhi, according to Drik Panchang and other almanacs.

Here are the dates, the timing and how the festival is celebrated across India.

Key points

• Raksha Bandhan 2027: Tuesday 17 August.
• Shravan Purnima begins about 10:28 AM on 16 August and ends about 12:58 PM on 17 August (Delhi).
• Bhadra ends before sunrise on 17 August, so the morning is free for tying rakhi.
• Rakhi time in Delhi: from about 5:51 AM to 12:58 PM, according to Drik Panchang; other panchangs start the window a little later.
• Raksha Bandhan is a restricted holiday for central government staff, not a gazetted one.

Raksha Bandhan 2027 date and time

All panchangs agree that the window ends at about 12:58 PM in Delhi. The start time differs slightly because almanacs use different sunrise and timing rules. Times shift by a few minutes in other cities.

What is Bhadra, and why does it matter?

Bhadra (also called Vishti Karana) is a period in the Hindu almanac traditionally considered unsuitable for auspicious work, including tying rakhi. In some years Bhadra covers much of Raksha Bandhan day, and families have to wait until the afternoon or evening.

In 2027 that is not a problem. According to Drik Panchang and Shri Mahalaxmi Calendar, Bhadra is over before sunrise on 17 August. The only limit is the end of the full-moon day at about 12:58 PM, so it is best to tie rakhi in the morning.

Why is Raksha Bandhan on 17 August?

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full-moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Shravan. In 2027, the Purnima begins on the morning of 16 August but is in effect at sunrise only on 17 August, so the festival is celebrated on the 17th.

The meaning and stories of Raksha Bandhan

"Raksha Bandhan" means "the bond of protection". A sister ties a rakhi, a sacred thread, on her brother's wrist, applies a tilak and offers sweets, praying for his well-being. The brother gives her a gift and promises to stand by her.

Several stories are linked to the festival:

• Krishna and Draupadi: When Krishna cut his finger, Draupadi tore a strip from her sari to bind it. Krishna promised to protect her, a promise he kept when she was humiliated in the Kaurava court.
• Yama and Yamuna: The river goddess Yamuna is said to have tied a thread on her brother Yama, the god of death, who granted that any brother who receives a rakhi would be blessed with a long life.
• Rani Karnavati and Humayun: A popular story says the queen of Chittor sent a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun to ask for help. Historians debate the details, but the story has become part of the festival's tradition.

Today the festival is about more than brothers and sisters. Many people tie rakhi on cousins, friends, soldiers and even trees, as a symbol of care and protection.

Raksha Bandhan sweets

Sweets are at the heart of the day. Ghevar, a honeycomb-like disc soaked in sugar syrup and topped with cream, is the seasonal favourite in Rajasthan and much of north India, and is sold mainly during the monsoon festivals of Teej and Rakhi. Kaju katli, laddoos and barfi are common across the country, and many families now also exchange chocolates and dry fruit.

How Raksha Bandhan is celebrated across India

The same full-moon day has different names and customs in different regions:

• North and west India: Raksha Bandhan with rakhi, sweets and family lunches.
• Maharashtra, Goa and the coast: Narali Purnima, when fishing communities offer coconuts to the sea at the end of the monsoon and mark the start of the fishing season.
• Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka: Avani Avittam or Upakarma, when Brahmin men change their sacred thread. It often falls on the same day.
• West Bengal and Odisha: Jhulan Purnima, the last day of the swing festival of Radha and Krishna.
• Parts of central India: Kajari Purnima, a festival of farmers and mothers.

How to tie rakhi, step by step

Customs vary from family to family, but a typical Raksha Bandhan morning goes like this:

1. Prepare the thali: A plate with the rakhi, roli or kumkum, a few grains of rice (akshat), a small diya and sweets.
2. Light the diya: The sister lights the lamp, and many families first offer a rakhi to the household deity.
3. Tilak: The sister applies a tilak of roli and rice on the brother's forehead.
4. Tie the rakhi: She ties the rakhi on his right wrist while praying for his health and happiness.
5. Aarti and sweets: She performs a short aarti with the diya and feeds him a sweet.
6. Gift and blessing: The brother gives a gift or money and promises to protect and support her.

Many sisters fast until the rakhi is tied, so families often plan the ceremony early in the morning, before breakfast. In 2027, with the muhurat ending around 1 PM, that early start fits well.

Raksha Bandhan 2027 and the August holidays

August 2027 is a busy month:

Raksha Bandhan is a restricted holiday for central government staff, who can choose two restricted holidays a year. Several states also declare it a public holiday, but state lists for 2027 are issued separately, so check your own state's list.

Taking Monday 16 August as leave turns Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan into a four-day break from Saturday to Tuesday.

Sending rakhi to a brother abroad

If your brother lives abroad, post the rakhi at least two to three weeks before 17 August. India Post and courier companies usually run special rakhi services in July and August. Online rakhi and gift delivery to the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the Gulf is widely available, but order early, especially for countries with longer customs checks.

Many families now tie rakhi over a video call, with the brother's wife or a relative tying the thread on his wrist.

This year, the timing could not be simpler: tie rakhi on the morning of Tuesday 17 August, before 1 PM. See our full festival calendar for 2027 for every other date.