Significance
Raksha Bandhan celebrates the loving bond between brothers and sisters. The sister ties a sacred thread — the rakhi — on her brother's wrist, praying for his well-being, and the brother pledges lifelong protection. The word itself means "the bond (bandhan) of protection (raksha)."
Falling on the full-moon day (Purnima) of the month of Shravan, it is one of the most widely observed family festivals across North and West India.
Rituals
Sisters prepare a puja thali with rakhi, roli (vermilion), rice, a diya and sweets. They apply a tilak, tie the rakhi during the auspicious window, perform aarti and exchange sweets and gifts. Where families are apart, rakhis are posted well in advance so they arrive in time.
How the date is fixed
Rakhi is tied on Shravan Purnima. Crucially, the thread should not be tied during Bhadra — an inauspicious period at the start of the tithi — so the muhurat above excludes it and shows the clear window for your location.