When is Rakhi 2026 - Raksha Bandhan Date 2026
Raksha Bandhan 2026 falls on Friday, 28th August 2026. The festival is observed on Shravan Purnima — the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan — which falls in July or August each year depending on the Hindu lunar calendar.
Sisters across India and worldwide are already planning their Rakhi orders, choosing the right thread for their brothers, and preparing for the ceremony. If your brother lives abroad, now is the time to plan your delivery — international Rakhi orders need to be placed well in advance to arrive before the festival.
In short, Raksha Bandhan 2026 kab hai? It falls on Friday, 28 August.
Why Raksha Bandhan Falls on a Different Date Each Year
The date of Raksha Bandhan changes every year because the Hindu calendar follows a lunar system rather than the solar calendar used in most of the world. A Hindu lunar year contains approximately 354 days — around 11 days shorter than a solar year of 365 days. This difference accumulates over time, which is why festival dates shift each year when viewed against the Gregorian calendar.
To keep the lunar and solar calendars aligned over longer periods, an extra month called Adhik Masa — sometimes called the leap month — is added to the Hindu calendar approximately every three years. This is why Raksha Bandhan sometimes falls in July and sometimes in August, and why the gap between one year's date and the next can vary considerably.
- Rakhi will be celebrated in 2027Tuesday, the 17th of August
- Rakhi will be celebrated in 2028Saturday, the 5th of August
- Rakhi celebration in 2026 will be celebrated on Friday - 28th of August, 2026
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2025Saturday, the 9th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2024Monday, the 19th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2023Wednesday, the 30th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2022Thursday, the 11th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2021Sunday, the 22nd of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2020Monday, the 3rd of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2019Thursday, the 15th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2018Sunday, the 26th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2017Monday, the 7th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2016Thursday, the 18th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2015Saturday, the 29th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2014Sunday, the 10th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2013Tuesday, the 20th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2012Thursday, the 2nd of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2011Saturday, the 13th of August
- Rakhi was celebrated in 2010Tuesday, the 24th of August
Raksha Bandhan 2026 Shubh Muhurat Timings (IST)
Raksha Bandhan is observed during specific auspicious hours — the Muhurat — considered most suitable for tying the Rakhi. This year the auspicious time falls in the morning only. The timings below are in Indian Standard Time (IST); if your brother lives abroad, convert them to his local time zone or see his country page for the converted timings.
- Purnima Tithi Begins: 09:08 AM IST on 27 August 2026
- Auspicious Muhurat for Tying Rakhi: 05:57 AM to 09:48 AM IST on 28 August 2026
- Purnima Tithi Ends: 09:48 AM IST on 28 August 2026
The whole of 27 August falls under Bhadra, the period during which a Rakhi is not tied, which is why the ceremony belongs to the morning of the 28th. Because the Purnima Tithi ends at 09:48 AM on the 28th, there is no valid Aparahna (afternoon) or Pradosh (evening) window this year — the morning window is the only auspicious time, whatever some older listings still carry. Sisters and brothers celebrating across different time zones should plan their video-call ceremony within this window, converted to their local time.
Now That You Know the Date — What Next?
Knowing the date is the first step. Planning around it is what makes the difference — especially when your brother lives far from home.
If your brother is in India: Metro city orders can be placed up to 25 August 2026 at 4:00 PM IST for guaranteed delivery. For rural and remote areas, the cut-off is 22 August 2026 at 12 noon IST.
If your brother lives abroad: International Rakhi orders must be placed by 22 August 2026 at 4:00 PM IST for confirmed delivery before Raksha Bandhan. We always recommend ordering 10 to 14 days before the festival to allow time for customs clearance and any unforeseen delays.
For the full country-wise delivery guide and cut-off dates, visit our Rakhi Delivery Deadlines 2026 page. To browse the full Rakhi collection and place your order, visit our Send Rakhi to India page, choose from Rakhi for Brother designs, or send worldwide from our Send Rakhi Worldwide page.
When is Rakhi 2026? Frequently Asked Questions
When is Raksha Bandhan 2026?
Raksha Bandhan 2026 is on Friday, 28 August 2026. It is observed on Shravan Purnima, the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan.
What is the shubh muhurat for tying Rakhi in 2026?
The auspicious muhurat, or shubh muhurat, for tying Rakhi in 2026 is from 05:57 AM to 09:48 AM IST on the morning of 28 August. This morning window is the only auspicious time this year.
Can Rakhi be tied in the afternoon or evening in 2026?
In 2026 the Purnima Tithi ends at 09:48 AM on 28 August, so there is no valid Aparahna (afternoon) or Pradosh (evening) muhurat this year, and the whole of the previous day falls under Bhadra, when Rakhi is not tied. The morning window is the auspicious time. That said, the muhurat marks the ideal hours, not a deadline the festival fails without — if your family cannot gather until later, the bond matters more than the clock.
Why does the date of Raksha Bandhan change every year?
Because the Hindu calendar is lunar and about 11 days shorter than the solar year, so festival dates shift against the Gregorian calendar. A leap month, Adhik Masa, is added roughly every three years, which is why Rakhi sometimes falls in July and sometimes in August.
What is the last date to order Rakhi for 2026?
For metro cities in India, order by 4:00 PM IST on 25 August. For other areas, order by 12 noon IST on 22 August. If your brother lives abroad, order 10 to 14 days ahead to allow for customs and transit. See our Rakhi Delivery Deadlines 2026 page for the full country-wise guide.
When is Rakhi in 2027 and 2028?
Raksha Bandhan will be on Tuesday, 17 August 2027, and Saturday, 5 August 2028. The date moves earlier by roughly 11 days most years, then jumps later in a leap-month year.