One of the popular Hindu festivals, Raksha Bandhan celebrates the special bond between a brother and a sister. It falls on the day of Purnima in the Hindu month of Shravan, which usually falls in the month of August. The terms "Bandhan" and "Raksha," meaning bond and protection, respectively, symbolize the prayer of the sister for her brother's well-being and the promise of the brother to protect her.
Sisters tie a sacred thread called a rakhi on their brothers' wrists, apply a tilak on their foreheads, and perform an aarti for them on this day. Brothers return the gesture by gifting presents and reaffirm their commitment to looking out for their sisters. The festival has evolved with time and can be now seen among close friends, cousins, and even as an expression of support between intercommunal communities.
Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated in 2025 with traditional rituals, family gatherings, and online rakhi deliveries, all of which show the modern lifestyle. The festival also witnesses a great amount of philanthropic activities, including people tying rakhis on frontline workers and soldiers.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to address the Universal Oneness celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York as part of the organization's centenary year global outreach. Ahead of the event, Bhagwat visited the Iskcon temple in New York, where he met volunteers, attended a food distribution program, and spoke on recognizing oneness despite world divisions. Organized by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD), the event centers on the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and is expected to draw about five thousand Indian Americans. Over two hundred Hindu American organizations are participating in the program, which marks the first leg of a seventeen-day world tour. The event has faced political opposition from New York's Zohran Mamdani, who called the RSS exclusionary, while noting the city lacks jurisdiction to cancel a private program. Protesting groups have also urged the US Secretary of State to revoke Bhagwat's visa. AHEAD stated the event promotes unity and community bonds on Raksha Bandhan.
The India Today Mood of the Nation survey reports Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK leader Vijay emerging as a prime ministerial choice with 9.2 percent support, trailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 48.7 percent and Rahul Gandhi at 27.1 percent.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with school students at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. During the festive interaction, students tied rakhis on the Prime Minister's wrist, which was seen filled with sacred threads. Prime Minister Modi engaged with the children, exchanging high fives, smiles, and conversations. He noticed details such as a rakhi coming loose and assisted with it, demonstrating a personal interaction with the young visitors. The event highlighted the rapport and ice-breaking connect the Prime Minister maintains with school students during major festivals and special occasions. The broadcast noted that such interactions reflect his effort to connect with the younger generation and make visitors feel comfortable during interactions at his residence.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath celebrated Raksha Bandhan during a special interaction with Gen Alpha students from government schools. The Chief Minister sat down with young students, answered their questions, shared light-hearted moments, and had rakhis tied on his wrist by the children. The event brought a personal touch to the festivities following the state government's allocation of funds for the betterment of government schools in Uttar Pradesh.
Ghaziabad witnessed heavy traffic jams on Thursday evening, a day before Raksha Bandhan, as a surge in vehicles put major roads under pressure. Long queues were reported on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, with videos from nearby high-rise residential societies showing vehicles backed up along the expressway. Traffic on NH-09 between Dasna and Mehrauli Cut also moved at a slow pace. One of the major bottlenecks was at the Delhi-Meerut Expressway exit, where the road narrows from eight lanes to two, creating heavy pressure as vehicles merge near the turn. Despite a traffic advisory issued ahead of the festival, the evening rush was further intensified by office-goers returning home and people travelling for Raksha Bandhan. Traffic was also affected at Lal Kuan, GT Road, Ambedkar Road and Meerut Tiraha. Traffic police teams were deployed across key routes, while diversions were implemented at some points.
Jewelry brand Giva has withdrawn its controversial Raksha Bandhan advertisement following a massive row over actor Kriti Sanon's outfit and the depiction of tying a rakhi to a pet dog. Critics accused the brand of disrespecting Hindu traditions and questioned the appropriateness of Kriti Sanon's off-white bralette-style blouse. The issue sparked political sparring after Kangana Ranaut targeted the ad, questioning Kriti Sanon's attire. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi backed Kriti Sanon, while other leaders criticized comments on women's clothing as misogynistic. Kriti Sanon responded to critics, stating that the essence of festivals lies in emotions rather than what a woman wears. Giva stated that it holds deep respect for Indian culture and traditions, explaining that the ad intended to celebrate festivals with family and extend that love towards pets without hurting anyone's sentiments. Despite clarifying its intentions, Giva confirmed the withdrawal of the ad across all media platforms to avoid further controversy.
A Muslim family in Balapur, Maharashtra, is preserving a five-generation-old tradition of crafting Dev Rakhis ahead of Raksha Bandhan. Taj Mohammed's family continues the legacy inherited from his grandfather, symbolising communal harmony and Hindu-Muslim amity. The intricate process of making Dev Rakhis involves boiling raw white thread in water and dyeing it in various vibrant colours. In Maharashtra, families traditionally offer the Dev Rakhi to a revered deity before women tie threads on their brothers' wrists. The report highlights how this longstanding cultural practice breaks stereotypes and reflects India's glorious tradition of unity in diversity.
Actor Kriti Sanon has responded to online trolls and actor-politician Kangana Ranaut following criticism over her latest Raksha Bandhan advertisement. The commercial sparked backlash on social media regarding Kriti Sanon's modern outfit, featuring an Indo-Western fusion bralette-style blouse, cape, and draped skirt. Critics called the attire inappropriate for a traditional festival. Joining the criticism, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut labeled the concept intentionally creepy on Instagram and questioned celebrating Rakhi in what she termed bikinis or undergarments. In response, Kriti Sanon defended the campaign, directly asking when society will stop dictating what women wear and stating that culture and traditions live in the heart, not in the neckline.
Ahead of Raksha Bandhan and the festive season, the food safety department conducted a raid on a sweet storage and manufacturing facility in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Authorities seized and destroyed one ton of adulterated rasgullas prepared under extremely unhygienic conditions. Visuals from the location showed sweet preparations infested with flies and insects. Initial findings revealed that starch was mixed into paneer to prepare the sweets, while chemical additives were allegedly used in the manufacturing process. Samples of the seized sweets and paneer have been collected and sent for laboratory testing to determine the extent of contamination and health risks. Officials confirmed that strict legal action, including potential cancellation of food licenses and police cases, will be initiated against the perpetrators based on the lab test results. The facility reportedly served as a central storage unit supplying contaminated sweets to multiple retail shops across the region.
A political confrontation erupted between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party following remarks by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at the Chhatro Ki Goonj event in Pune. Gandhi criticised the Manusmriti and called for dismantling patriarchy and expanding women’s role in society. BJP leaders responded, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defending traditional values and party spokesperson Charu Pragya questioning the absence of women ministers in Congress governments in states such as Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate countered the criticism by condemning political sexism and questioning the rhetoric of opposition leaders. The discussions also covered economic concerns, particularly rising domestic sugar prices ahead of the festive season. Analysts and critics cited weather-related damage to sugarcane yields, global supply constraints, market hoarding and the diversion of sugar for ethanol production as contributing factors. The government has imposed stock limits on bulk consumers in an effort to stabilise retail prices.
In a political debate on India Today anchored by Preeti, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate and political analyst Rajat Sethi clashed over the recent surge in domestic sugar prices during the festive season. Rajat Sethi argued that the price hike is primarily driven by reduced sugarcane output following excessive rainfall in key producing states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat, alongside global supply shortages and speculative hoarding. He defended the government's ethanol blending program as a crucial buffer against international fuel supply risks. Countering his claims, Supriya Shrinate attributed the crisis to 'gross mismanagement' and a lack of central accountability. She highlighted that sugar prices rose by forty percent over three months and criticized the government for continuing exports despite low reserves. Shrinate further questioned the delayed policy response, noting that importing raw sugar at the peak of festivities like Raksha Bandhan and Diwali is a knee-jerk reaction that takes months to yield refined sugar.
Sugar prices in India have witnessed a sharp surge from 44 rupees per kilo in May to nearly 65 rupees per kilo, triggering a political slugfest ahead of the festive season. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that global weather damage, El Nino, and red rot disease have impacted sugar production. Despite the price rise, the Centre highlighted that sugarcane output rose to over 5,000 lakh tons in 2025-26, maintaining that domestic sugar supplies remain in surplus. To curb hoarding and speculation, the government announced a 15-day stock limit for bulk consumers using over 10 metric tons monthly, effective from September until November 30. The curbs apply to sweet shops, soft drinks manufacturers, food processors, and confectioneries. Additionally, 10 lakh tons of raw sugar will be imported duty-free, while exports remain restricted. Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, attacked the central government over sugar stocks and sugarcane diversion for ethanol.
The annual Amarnath Yatra has entered its concluding stage with the commencement of the sacred Chhari Mubarak journey from Srinagar to the holy Amarnath cave. The holy mace journey includes ritual stops and prayers at Martand, Sarbal, Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni. The final batch of pilgrims accompanying the Chhari Mubarak will reach the holy cave on Raksha Bandhan, 28th August, for the main darshan and traditional Vedic rituals. Following the return journey via Panchtarni, Sheshnag, and Chandanwari, the annual pilgrimage will formally conclude on 30th August with rituals, immersion, and a feast for saints along the Liddar river in Pahalgam.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with school students in New Delhi. Girl students tied Rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with school children at his residence in New Delhi on Monday. In the video, several school girls can be seen tying Rakhi to PM Modi's wrists.
Sara Ali Khan was clicked as she arrived at Saif Ali Khan's residence. Every year, the actor visits Saif Ali Khan's home on Raksha Bandhan to celebrate the festival with Taimur and Jeh.
Doctors from various hospitals in Kolkata tied Rakhi to West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose.
The locals celebrate Raksha Bandhan with Army jawans at the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector. Local girls tied rakhis to the jawans posted in the area. They also performed aarti shared sweets on the auspicious occasion.
Schoolgirls tied Rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, as they celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan with him.
