Raksha Bandhan 2016
Sisters tie the rakhi on Shravana Purnima (avoiding Bhadra).
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:33
- Sunset18:31
- Fasting window (tithi)2016-08-17 · 16:32 → 15:01
- Parana (tithi ends)15:01
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Raksha Bandhan puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaRaksha Bandhan — Frequently Asked Questions
Can a rakhi be tied during Bhadra?
No. Bhadra is avoided for the rite entirely. Because Shravana Purnima often begins with Bhadra running, the muhurat frequently opens only in the afternoon — aparahna is preferred, pradosh is the fallback.
On which wrist is the rakhi tied?
The right wrist, with the brother seated facing east and the sister facing west.
Is Raksha Bandhan only for brothers and sisters?
In practice, mostly. The older texts describe the raksha sutra as tied by priests on patrons and by wives on husbands — anyone offering or seeking protection.
Other major festivals in 2016
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2016
- Vasant Panchami — 13 February 2016
- Maha Shivaratri — 7 March 2016
- Holika Dahan — 22 March 2016
- Holi — 24 March 2016
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 8 April 2016
- Ram Navami — 15 April 2016
- Akshaya Tritiya — 9 May 2016
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 6 July 2016
- Guru Purnima — 19 July 2016
- Nag Panchami — 7 August 2016
- Krishna Janmashtami — 24 August 2016
- Hartalika Teej — 4 September 2016
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 5 September 2016
- Anant Chaturdashi — 15 September 2016
- Pitru Paksha begins — 17 September 2016
- Sharad Navratri begins — 1 October 2016
- Durga Ashtami — 9 October 2016
- Maha Navami — 10 October 2016
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 11 October 2016
- Karwa Chauth — 19 October 2016
- Dhanteras — 28 October 2016
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 29 October 2016
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 30 October 2016
- Govardhan Puja — 31 October 2016
- Bhai Dooj — 1 November 2016
- Chhath Puja — 6 November 2016
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 14 November 2016
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 14 November 2016
- Hindu Festivals 2016 →