Happy Raksha Bandhan 2023: Bhadra kaal shubh muhurt, puja vidhi and rules to tie Rakhi on brother hand

In India, Raksha Bandhan festival will be celebrated on August 30 & 31, 2023, which is the last day of the Hindu lunar month of Shravana.

Due to the fact that this event falls on a full moon day during the sacred month of Shravana, it is also known as Rakhi Purnima. The sister ties a mauli/kalava thread known as a "Rakhi" around her brother's wrist to commemorate the occasion. This thread represents their adoration, respect, love, and care for one another.

According to the Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana, when Lord Vishnu defeated the demon King Bali to win the three realms, the demon king asked him to reside next to him in the palace. The request was granted, and the Lord moved in with the demon king. Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu, wished to go back to Vaikuntha, where she was born. She then transformed Bali, the demon king, into a brother by wrapping a rakhi around his wrist. Goddess Lakshmi requested Bali to release her husband from the promise and allow him to go back to Vaikuntha when she inquired about the return gift. When Bali granted the request, Lord Vishnu and his wife, Goddess Lakshmi, went back to their home.

Bhadra Kaal Shubh Muhurat

Rakhi should never be tied during Bhadra Kaal. It is considered inauspicious because the nature of Goddess Bhadra is to destroy. Therefore, any work performed during Bhadra Kaal never meets with success. Rakhi is celebrated on Shravan Poornima which starts at 10:59 am on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 and ends on August 31, 2023 at 7:05 am. However, Rakhi should not be tied on August 30 because of Bhadra Kaal on this day. Therefore, the ideal date to tie Rakhi is August 31, 2023 before 7:05 am.

How to do the puja

For celebrating Rakhi festival, place saffron, roli, akshat, Rakhi, sweets, and a ghee lamp on a sacred fig leaf or on a clean plate. Then light a ghee diya and offer your prayers to Lord Ganesha and other holy gods. Then make your brother sit facing the east or north direction. Now place a clean scarf on their head. After this, you can apply a dot of saffron, roli and akshat on their forehead. Finally, tie the Rakhi on their right hand, do aarti with the diya and feed them sweets.

Rules of tying the Rakhi

Rakhi must be tied only on the right wrist. The right portion of the body is considered more auspicious. It has greater capacity to control the mind and the body; while, utilising the left hand is viewed as inauspicious for every ritual.