When is Raksha Bandhan 2018? Rakhi date, customs and how the Hindu festival is marked
The Hindu festival centres around the bond between brothers and sisters - with each trading gifts and wishing each other health and happiness
RAKSHA Bandhan is an annual Hindu ceremony from the Indian subcontinent.
But what is the celebration, also known as Rakhi, and when is it this year?
When is Raksha Bandhan this year?
This year Raksha Bandhan falls on Sunday, August 26.
The annual festival typically falls in the Gregorian calendar month of August.
The festival falls on the full-moon day of the month of Shravana in the Hindu calendar.
Because of variations in the waxing and waning of the moon, the exact date changes every year, although it usually always falls at some point in August.
What is Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan, often called Rakhi for short, is a festival observed by Hindus - and some Jains - all over the world.
Rakhi is all about celebrating love and duty between brothers and sisters, with the festival's full name meaning "bond of protection".
It is also used to celebrate friendships between people with a brother-sister kind of bond, but who aren't actually related.
Brothers and sisters will share gifts and take part in a short ritual celebration to mark their appreciation for one another.
As part of this, sisters will tie a sacred thread, the rakhi, on their brothers' wrist to symbolise their love and best wishes.
Meanwhile, the brother will give his sister a token gift and a promise to protect her.
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How is Rakhi celebrated?
Rakhi is a huge deal on the Indian subcontinent, with big Hindu communities celebrating the festival in India, Mauritius and Nepal especially.
However, Hindu and Jain communities in other countries also celebrate the special day - as do some people who aren't religious at all.
A short ritual will take place on the morning of the festival which sees brothers and sisters exchange gifts in front of a lit candle, with their family all around them.
As part of this ritual, the sister will tie a sacred thread, which she may have bought or made herself, round her brother's wrist.
Once the thread, or rakhi, has been tied, the sister will say a prayer for her brother's well being, before the brother gives his sister a gift to symbolise his love.
In some communities, the brother and sister will then feed each other, before being congratulated by their gathered family members.