This year’s Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi Purnima) has sparked confusion, with debates over whether the festival should be observed on August 27 or August 28, 2026.
According to astrologers, the Purnima tithi begins at 9:07 AM on August 27 and ends at 9:45 AM on August 28. While households are expected to celebrate Raksha Bandhan on August 27, the Jagannath Temple in Puri will conduct Balabhadra Jayanti, Sudarshan’s Chaturashrama Bije, and Rakhi rituals on August 28, aligning with the temple’s tradition of observing Purnima rites at sunrise.
The overlap has created differing opinions among scholars and devotees. Some argue that Raksha Bandhan can be observed on the 27th at home, while temple rituals will follow on the 28th.
