The Festival of Rakhi
Rakhi in India is one of the major festival that stands for beautiful and unconditional relationship between a brother and a sister. All brothers and sisters around the world celebrate this festival of rakhi with great spirit and renew the bond of love between them.

On this auspicious day, siblings celebrate the bond of love and care shared between them. A rakhi is a simple thread wrapped with sisterly love, sentiments, warmth and respect. Rakhi means 'a bond of protection' which signifies the unconditional love of a brother and sister. The festival falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana. Generally, rakhee are made up of silk or cotton with gold and silver threads and further beautifully embroidered with glitter and decorated with semi-precious stones.

Preparation of Rakhi festival in India
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is worldly known for its carnival spirit and strengthening the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters start the preparing for this occasion about a month before the festival. They start presuming the gifts which they would get from their brothers. Markets get flooded with various colorful and designer rakhi. Girls shop for beautiful rakhi and delicious sweets for their brothers. On the day of raksha bandhan, people take early bath and young boys and girls wear new and clean clothes. After the completion of all rituals and customs, they enjoy the taste of different dishes of tasty food, which are cooked in their homes.

Rakhi 'A Social Bonding'
The festival of Rakhi not only strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters but also brings friends and strangers closer. The sacred thread of rakhi when tied on the wrist of a close friend and neighbor acts as a way to connect individuals on a new platform and bring them closer. It is also believed that rakhi helps in building the friendly feeling of brotherly love among friends and neighbours as well.

Known by different names in different areas
Celebrated on full moon day, rakhi festival is known by different names in different parts of India. Though celebrated by different names, the significance remains the same.

• In North and West India, Raksha Bandhan is also called "Rakhi Purnima".
• In Western Ghats and the adjoining regions Rakhi is called "Nariyal Purnima" to signify the full moon like coconut.
• In South India, it is celebrated as "Avani Avittam / Upakarmam
• Central India celebrates Rakhi as "Kajari Purnima".
• Raksha Bandhan is celebrated by the name of Pavitrapana in the western parts of India.