What is Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. It falls on the full moon of the month of Shravan. "Raksha" means protection and "bandhan" means bond.
The rakhi ritual
Sisters perform aarti, apply tilak and tie a rakhi on their brother's wrist, praying for his long life and happiness. Brothers promise to always protect their sisters and give them gifts. Today, sisters also tie rakhis on each other, and cousins and friends join in.
Stories behind the thread
One well-known story tells how Draupadi tore a strip from her saree to bandage Lord Krishna's bleeding finger, and Krishna promised to protect her forever. Another tells of Queen Karnavati of Mewar sending a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun to ask for help.