A sister ties a rakhi — a protective thread — on her brother's wrist, and he promises to look out for her in return. The bond isn't limited to blood siblings; the thread has historically marked any relationship of protection, including between communities and, in some retellings, between rulers and allies.
श्रावण पूर्णिमा
Historical legend also credits the ritual with Rani Karnavati of Mewar sending a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun seeking protection, and mythologically with Indrani tying a protective thread on Indra before his battle with the demons.
Many also tie rakhis to trees, rivers, or protective symbols on this day as a broader gesture of guardianship, beyond siblings alone. Sweets such as laddoos are exchanged alongside the thread.