‹ Puja Vidhi

Raksha Bandhan Puja

Tying the rakhi, outside Bhadra, with a blessing and a sweet

Common way — most homes

Raksha Bandhan, Shravana Purnima, in the afternoon and outside Bhadra. Muhurtha shows the window on the festival card.

About 15 minutes

A sister ties a protective thread on her brother's wrist; he promises his care in return. Many families also tie it between sisters, cousins and close friends. If a mantra is hard, a blessing in your own words is enough.

Prayers in this puja

Vakratunda Mahakaya ›Shuklambaradharam ›Mushikavahana ›

Get ready

The day before

• Buy or make a rakhi, and post it early if your sibling lives far away.
• Plan a sweet he likes.

On the day

• Check the time outside Bhadra in the app.
• Keep the plate ready with rakhi, tilak, rice, lamp and sweet.

What you need

For the rakhi

• 1 for eachRakhi
• A littleKumkum and rice
• 1Small lamp
• 1 plateSweet
• 1CoconutOptional.
• As he wishesGift from the brother

For the altar

• 1Clean cloth to place it onRed or yellow is traditional.
• 1Puja plate (thali)

On the plate

• 1Oil lamp (diya) with a cotton wickGhee or sesame oil.
• 2Incense sticks (agarbatti)
• A pinch eachKumkum and haldi
• A littleSandal paste (chandan)No chandan? Use kumkum.
• 1 tablespoonAkshat — unbroken rice grains mixed with a little kumkum
• A handfulFresh flowers
• 1Small vessel of clean water with a spoon
• 1Small bellOptional.

To offer

• A littleFruit, jaggery, sugar crystals (mishri) or anything cooked fresh at home
• 1 or 2 piecesCamphor for the aartiOptional; the lamp can be used instead.

The puja

1. Remember Ganesha

   Every puja begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Fold your hands and say the verse once.

   vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakōṭisamaprabha. nirvighnaṁ kuru mē dēva sarvakāryēṣu sarvadā.O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty form, radiant as a crore suns, keep my every work free of obstacles, always.

   Vakratunda Mahakaya ›Shuklambaradharam ›Mushikavahana ›

2. Tilak

   Seat your brother facing east. Put the tilak on his forehead and press a few grains of rice on it.

3. Tie the rakhi

   Tie the rakhi on his right wrist while saying this verse, or your own blessing.

   yēna baddhō balī rājā dānavēndrō mahābalaḥ. tēna tvāmanubadhnāmi rakṣē mā cala mā cala.I tie on you the thread by which Bali, the mighty king of demons, was bound. O protector, do not waver, do not waver.

4. Aarti and sweet

   Circle the lamp before him clockwise and feed him a sweet.

5. His promise

   He gives a gift and his word to stand by you. If you are apart, tie the rakhi on over a call: he can tie it himself, or ask someone nearby.

Fasting

Some sisters eat only after tying the rakhi. No fast is required.

Good to do

• Tie a rakhi for anyone you want to protect; sisters and friends count.
• Post the rakhi a week early.

Tradition avoids

• Tradition avoids tying during Bhadra; check the time.
• Do not treat the gift as a debt.

The thread is thin on purpose. What holds it is the promise.

Traditions vary. Follow your own family's way.

Muhurtha Puja Vidhi