Auspicious Sawan Purnima & Raksha Bandhan 2025: Rare Yogas, Full Moon Rituals, and Day-Long Celebrations Across India

New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): The holy month of Sawan, dedicated to Lord Shiva, will conclude on Saturday, August 9 with the auspicious occasion of Sawan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. This year’s celebrations are made even more special by the rare combination of Ayushman and Saubhagya Yogas, considered highly auspicious in Hindu astrology.

According to Drik Panchang, sunrise will occur at 5:46 AM and sunset at 7:07 PM. The Purnima Tithi will begin at 2:12 PM, marking an important window for Raksha Bandhan rituals and Purnima fasting. On this day, the Moon will be in Capricorn while the Sun will be in Cancer.

The Sawan Purnima fast is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Moon God. Devotees begin their day with a holy bath, wear clean clothes, and perform elaborate worship rituals, offering water, milk, curd, honey, ghee, sandalwood, bel leaves, black sesame, barley, wheat, jaggery, and other sacred items to the Shivling. Worship of the Moon is also considered highly beneficial, especially for those with afflicted lunar positions in their horoscope.

After the Moon puja, devotees offer Arghya — a sacred water-and-milk offering mixed with sugar — in a silver vessel, chanting “Om Som Somaya Namah,” “Om Namah Shivaya,” and “Om Someshwaraya Namah.” The fast begins at sunrise and is broken after moonrise by offering Arghya. Most devotees observe a fruit-based diet during the fast and donate to the needy and Brahmins for blessings.

An important highlight this year is that the inauspicious Bhadra period will end before sunrise, allowing Raksha Bandhan celebrations to be held throughout the day. The most auspicious time for tying the Rakhi will be from 5:47 AM to 1:24 PM.

Raksha Bandhan, celebrated nationwide, sees sisters tying the sacred thread on their brothers’ wrists while praying for their long life. In Maharashtra, the day is known as Narali Purnima (Coconut Full Moon), in Tamil Nadu as Avani Avittam (a sacred thread-changing ceremony for Brahmins), and in Andhra Pradesh as Jandhyala Purnima. In several regions, this day marks the Upakarma ritual, where the sacred thread (Yajnopavita) is replaced with a new one.