A ritual for celebrating the bonds that shape us, and the invisible threads that connect us.
In Marian Sandmaier’s book Original Kin, which explores the profound bond between brothers and sisters, she writes: “A sibling may be the sole keeper of one's core identity, the only person with the keys to one's unfettered, more fundamental self.”
It is a beautiful reflection on a relationship that can span our entire lives. Our siblings may know versions of us that no one else does — the child we once were, the dreams we once had, the parts of ourselves we may have forgotten along the way.
Yet, too often, these relationships are left to exist in the background of busy adult lives.
Raksha Bandhan offers a moment to pause and tend to the thread.
The festival of the sacred bond
Raksha Bandhan, commonly known as Rakhi, is a celebration of the bond between siblings. The date follows the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana and in 2026 falls on 28 August.
While traditionally observed between brothers and sisters, at its heart Raksha Bandhan is about something broader: love, protection, gratitude and the promise to remain connected.
The central ritual is beautifully simple. A sacred thread (the Rakhi) is tied around the wrist as a symbol of protection and wellbeing. Traditionally, this is accompanied by prayers, sweets and blessings, creating a moment in which two people consciously acknowledge the bond they share.
At Mauli, we have always been drawn to the symbolism of the sacred thread. The word Mauli itself refers to the red and yellow sacred thread traditionally tied around the wrist during Hindu rituals and blessings. It represents protection, auspiciousness and connection, a physical reminder of an invisible bond.
A Rakhi is, in many ways, an elaboration of this simple thread: made more decorative, more personal and often embellished as an expression of love.
But perhaps the most meaningful Rakhi is one made with intention.
Make your own Raksha Sutra
A traditional Vedic-inspired Raksha Sutra can easily be made at home, giving it its own symbolism and blessing. The practice offers a beautiful opportunity to slow down and think about what you wish for the person you are tying it for.
You will need:
Red and yellow Mauli thread — representing protection, courage, wisdom and auspiciousness.
Akshata (unbroken rice) — symbolising abundance and an unbroken bond.
Turmeric — traditionally associated with wellbeing, purity and auspiciousness.
Durva grass — traditionally offered to Ganesha, carrying an intention for obstacles to be overcome.
Kesar (saffron) — a wish for confidence, dignity and success.
Tulsi — associated with purity, spiritual wellbeing and protection.
Red Chandan (red sandalwood) — symbolising strength accompanied by calmness.
Cardamom — a beautiful reminder to bring sweetness to our communication.
Clove — traditionally associated with protection and resilience.
The beauty is not in perfection. It is in the intention behind each element.
Place the smaller ingredients into a little piece of clean cotton cloth and secure it carefully to the centre of the Mauli thread, keeping the Tulsi and Chandan visible. The result needn't be elaborate. It simply needs to carry your love.
A ritual of connection
On Raksha Bandhan, begin by lighting a diya, a small flame representing light, clarity and the dispelling of darkness.
Place it on a tray alongside fruit or something sweet. Take a moment to be present with one another before beginning a simple Aarti, gently circulating the tray before your sibling while offering a prayer for their health and happiness.
Then comes the heart of the ritual: tying the Rakhi.
As you tie the thread, think about what you wish for the person wearing it. Not simply success or prosperity, but the qualities that make life meaningful: courage, health, wisdom, joy, resilience and the freedom to become fully themselves.
Traditionally, a tilak is then placed on the forehead and something sweet is shared.
Beyond brother and sister
While Raksha Bandhan has traditionally celebrated the brother-sister relationship, the deeper invitation is to honour the people who form our chosen family, too.
A sister. A brother. A lifelong friend. A daughter. A mother. Someone who has stood beside you through a season of change.
And perhaps, most importantly, there is no reason the person you choose to protect and honour cannot be yourself.
Make a Rakhi for your own wrist. Tie it with an intention to care for yourself with the same tenderness you offer those you love. Because when we tend to our own wellbeing, we have more to give others.
This is the essence of abundance: recognising that we are not separate, but connected by invisible threads of love, care and shared experience.
This Raksha Bandhan, take a moment to find yours.
