Sisters tie a sacred thread (rakhi) on their brothers' wrists as a symbol of love and protection.

Rakhi is the common name for the sacred thread tied on Shravana Purnima, and by extension for the festival of Raksha Bandhan itself. The thread is the whole of it: a sister ties it on her brother wrist, and in that act asks for nothing and gives protection, while the brother pledges the same in return. The tradition reaches back through several stories — Lakshmi tying a thread on King Bali to win back Vishnu, Sachi tying one on Indra before his battle with Vritra, Draupadi tearing her sari to bind Krishna bleeding finger and receiving his lifelong protection in return. The thread is tied on the right wrist, and never during Bhadra, the inauspicious half of the tithi. In modern practice the bond has widened well beyond blood siblings.

Many sisters keep a light fast from morning until the rakhi has been tied, then eat with the family. No fast is prescribed for the brother.