Vishnu
Raksha Bandhan
The thread of protection
A thread is tied at the wrist and a promise of care is renewed. Beyond the family custom, raksha means simply protection, and the day carries an older prayer: that those we love be kept safe by something larger than our own ability to keep them so.
Add Raksha Bandhan to calendar (downloads an .ics file)
A recommended mantra for this sacred day
The Ashtakshara addresses Narayana as the one who sustains and shelters — the prayer a devotee makes on behalf of someone else rather than themselves.
Read the Sanskrit and meaning on the Om Namo Narayanaya — Ashtakshara Mantra page, or explore the full mantra library.
Date shown for New Delhi, India. Observance can differ by location because tithi, sunrise and timezone affect the applicable date — please confirm local temple or pañcāṅga timings if precise observance times matter to your practice.