Rakhi Bandhan is the full moon of Shravana, the Assamese month of Shaon. Sisters tie the rakhi on their brothers, and in the towns of Assam the custom has grown steadily. The older observance of the season belongs to the satras: Jhulan, the swing festival of Krishna, when the image is placed on a decorated swing for several evenings ending at the full moon.
The story
The thread is traced to many stories, among them Draupadi binding Krishna's cut finger with a strip of her sari.
Shaon is the month of the heaviest rain and of transplanting the sali paddy; the full moon comes with the fields newly green.
How it is kept
- RakhiTied with a tilak and a sweet; a gift is given in return.
- JhulanThe swinging of Krishna in satras and namghars.
- NaamEvening singing through the week.
- SweetsNarikol laru and payas.
Why this date
Rakhi Bandhan is the full-moon tithi of Shravana, on the day it is present at sunrise.
Rakhi Bandhan in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Saturday | |
| 2026 | Friday | |
| 2027 | Tuesday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Friday | |
| 2030 | Tuesday |
More Assamese festivals
4 SeptemberJanmashtamiজন্মাষ্টমী
29 JulyGuru Purnimaগুৰু পূৰ্ণিমা
14 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiগণেশ চতুৰ্থী
25 JulyShayan Ekadashiশয়ন একাদশী
19 AprilAkshaya Tritiyaঅক্ষয় তৃতীয়া
18 OctoberKati Bihuকাতি বিহু
Where to see Rakhi Bandhan
In Assam
- Barpeta SatraAssamJhulan is kept here with the old songs.
- GuwahatiAssamThe rakhi stalls of Fancy Bazaar and Paltan Bazaar.
- MajuliAssamThe satras' Jhulan, in the middle of the flood season.
Across India
- MayapurWest BengalJhulan at the Vaishnava temples of Nadia.
- PuriOdishaGamha Purnima, the birthday of Balabhadra.
- AmarnathJammu and KashmirThe pilgrimage to the ice linga ends on this full moon.