Raksha Bandhan 2026 Date Set for August 27 Amid Lunar Eclipse

The Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan in 2026 will be observed on August 27, despite the occurrence of a lunar eclipse on the following day. The eclipse, the year’s last, will begin at 6:53 AM IST on August 28 and end at 12:32 PM, leading to confusion about the correct festival date. Hindu calendar calculations place the auspicious Shravan Purnima period from 5:38 AM on August 27 to 6:18 AM on August 28, providing a suitable time for the rakhi‑tying ceremony on August 27.

The festival, which celebrates the sibling bond, is traditionally marked on the full‑moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan. While many regions worldwide note the date, the primary observance in India will follow the August 27 schedule, avoiding the eclipse‑related Sutak period that begins the night before the eclipse.