Raksha Bandhan 2024: Raksha Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the bond of love and protection between siblings. It is one of the most awaited and joyous occasions in India. On this day, sisters tie a sacred thread called Rakhi on their brothers’ wrists, praying for their happiness and prosperity. Brothers, in turn, vow to protect their sisters from all evils and shower them with gifts and blessings.

But do you know when is the best time to tie Rakhi to your brother? According to Hindu scriptures, there are certain auspicious timings or muhurats for performing any ritual or ceremony. These timings are based on the position of the moon, stars and planets. Tying Rakhi during these muhurats is believed to bring good luck and fortune to both siblings.

Raksha Bandhan 2024 Date and Time

The best time to tie Rakhi: This year, Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on two consecutive days, i.e., August 19th, 2024. This is because of the presence of Bhadra Kaal, which is an inauspicious period that should be avoided for any religious or auspicious activity. Bhadra Kaal starts at 11:00 AM on August 19th and ends at 9:03 PM on the same day. Therefore, it is not advisable to tie Rakhi during this time.

However, there are two options for celebrating Raksha Bandhan this year. The first option is to tie Rakhi after Bhadra Kaal ends, i.e., after 9:01 PM on August 19th. The second option is to tie Rakhi before Purnima Tithi ends, i.e., before 7:05 AM on August 31. Both these timings are considered auspicious and suitable for tying Rakhi.

Date	Event	Time
August 19, 2024	Purnima Tithi Begins	10:58 AM
	Bhadra Begins (Inauspicious)	11:00 AM
	Raksha Bandhan Bhadra End Time	09:01 PM
	Best Time to Tie Rakhi	After 9:01 PM
August 20, 2024	Purnima Tithi Ends (Auspicious)	07:05 AM
	Best Time to Tie Rakhi	Before 07:05 AM
	Surya Udaye Purnima (Auspicious)
August 19-20, 2024	Raksha Bandhan Celebrations	Throughout the day
	Raksha Bandhan Bhadra Punchha	05:30 PM to 06:31 PM
	Raksha Bandhan Bhadra Mukha	06:31 PM to 08:11 PM
	Muhurat is available after Pradosh only	When Bhadra ends

Raksha Bandhan 2024 Shubh Muhurat

Here are the details of the shubh muhurat for tying Rakhi on August 30 and 31:

August 19: The best time to tie Rakhi on this day is after 9:01 PM, when Bhadra Kaal ends. The Purnima Tithi will be prevailing till 7:05 AM on August 31, which makes this night auspicious for tying Rakhi.
August 20: The best time to tie Rakhi on this day is before 7:05 AM, when Purnima Tithi ends. This is also known as Surya Udaye Purnima, which is a very auspicious time for tying Rakhi.

Here are the other details of the timings for August 19 and 20:

Bhadra Punchha: This is the first phase of Bhadra Kaal, which lasts for about an hour. It starts at 5:30 PM and ends at 6:31 PM on August 19.
Bhadra Mukha: This is the second phase of Bhadra Kaal, which lasts for about an hour and a half. It starts at 6:31 PM and ends at 8:11 PM on August 19.
Pradosh: This is the period of one and a half hours after sunset, which is considered very auspicious for any ritual or worship. It starts at around 6:45 PM and ends at around 8:15 PM on August 19.

Raksha Bandhan 2024 Significance and Celebration

Raksha Bandhan is a festival that symbolizes the love, care and respect between siblings. The word “Raksha” means protection and “Bandhan” means bond. Thus, Raksha Bandhan means the bond of protection.

The origin of this festival can be traced back to ancient times, when there are many legends and stories associated with it. One of the most popular ones is that of Lord Krishna and Draupadi. According to the Mahabharata, Draupadi tore a piece of her saree and tied it on Krishna’s wounded finger as a gesture of love and care. Krishna was touched by her act and promised to protect her from all troubles. He later saved her from being dishonored by Duryodhana in the Kaurava court.

Another legend is that of King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi. According to the Vishnu Purana, King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, who had taken the form of his dwarf servant Vamana. Vamana asked Bali for three steps of land as a boon, which Bali readily agreed. However, Vamana expanded his size and covered the entire earth and sky with his two steps, leaving no space for the third step. Bali then offered his head as the third step, which pleased Vishnu and he granted him immortality and prosperity. However, Vishnu also had to stay with Bali as his servant, which made Lakshmi, his consort, unhappy. She disguised herself as a Brahmin woman and tied a Rakhi on Bali’s wrist, asking him for a boon. Bali asked her what she wanted, and she requested him to free Vishnu from his service. Bali agreed and let Vishnu return to his abode with Lakshmi.

There are many other stories and legends that depict the significance of Raksha Bandhan. The festival is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm across India. On this day, sisters prepare a thali or a plate with a Rakhi, roli or vermilion, rice grains, sweets and a diya or a lamp. They perform aarti or a ritual of waving the lamp in front of their brothers and apply roli and rice on their forehead. They then tie the Rakhi on their wrist and feed them sweets. Brothers, in turn, give them gifts and money and promise to protect them from all evils.

Raksha Bandhan is not only limited to biological siblings, but also extends to anyone who shares a bond of love and respect. It can be between friends, cousins, neighbors, colleagues or even strangers. It is a festival that celebrates the universal brotherhood and sisterhood of mankind.

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