The full moon of Sravana carries two observances in Telugu homes. As Rakhi Pournami, sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers' wrists and are promised protection in return. As Jandhyala Pournami it is the day of Upakarma, when those who wear the sacred thread change it for a new one and begin the year's Vedic study afresh.
The story
The stories of the thread are many. Draupadi tore a strip from her sari to bind Krishna's bleeding finger, and he repaid it when she was dishonoured in the Kaurava court. Lakshmi tied a thread on the demon king Bali and asked, as her gift, that Vishnu be released from guarding his door. Indra went into battle wearing a thread his wife Sachi had tied.
The same full moon is the day of Hayagriva, the horse-headed form of Vishnu who recovered the Vedas, which is why the year of study starts here.
How it is kept
- Tying the rakhiThe sister marks her brother's forehead, ties the thread, feeds him a sweet and waves an arati; he gives her a gift.
- UpakarmaAt dawn, by a river or in a temple, the old yagnopavitam is replaced with a new one, with offerings to the sages. Gayatri japam follows the next morning.
- Beyond the familyRakhis are tied on neighbours, soldiers, policemen and trees.
- SweetsThe day has no fast. It is for visiting, and eating.
Why this date
Rakhi Pournami is the full-moon tithi of Sravana, given on the day it is in force at sunrise. By custom rakhis are not tied during Bhadra (the karana called Vishti), which often covers the first half of the full-moon tithi; the day's panchangam shows when it ends.
Rakhi Pournami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday | |
| 2027 | Tuesday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Friday | |
| 2030 | Tuesday | |
| 2031 | Sunday |
More Telugu festivals
13 AugustVaralakshmi Vratamవరలక్ష్మీ వ్రతం
24 AugustSri Krishnashtamiశ్రీకృష్ణాష్టమి
4 SeptemberVinayaka Chavithiవినాయక చవితి
18 JulyGuru Pournamiగురు పౌర్ణమి
14 JulyTholi Ekadasiతొలి ఏకాదశి
29 SeptemberBathukammaబతుకమ్మ
Where to see Rakhi Pournami
In the Telugu states
- Begum Bazaar, HyderabadTelanganaThe wholesale market that supplies rakhis to the Telugu states, at its most crowded in the week before.
- Venkateswara Temple, TirumalaAndhra PradeshOn every full-moon evening the Lord is taken round the hill streets on Garuda.
Across India
- AmarnathJammu and KashmirThe summer pilgrimage to the ice linga ends on this full moon.
- PuriOdishaGamha Purnima, kept as the birthday of Balabhadra, Jagannath's elder brother.
- The Mumbai coastMaharashtraNarali Purnima: the Koli fishing communities offer coconuts to the sea and put out again after the monsoon.