In pictures: The Rakhi bond in India

Photo:
EMMANUAL YOGINI

A woman makes colourful Rakhis inside a wholesale shop in Dharavi, Mumbai, ahead of Rakshabandhan Festival which will be celebrated on Saturday, August 09, 2025.

Photo:
SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta seen with students during Rakhi celebration at her residence, in New Delhi on Thursday, August 07, 2025.

Photo:
SUDHAKARA JAIN

A girl picks out the perfect Rakhi for her brother in Bengaluru amid the festive rush.

Photo:
PTI

Students form a concentric ‘Rakhi’ formation as part of celebrations, at Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul in Surat, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2025.

Photo:
ANI

Padma Shri awardee Jamuna Tudu and her Jungle Bachao Committee tie Rakhi to a forest tree on the eve of Raksha Bandhan festival, in Jharkhand on Friday, August 8, 2025.

Photo:
K.R Deepak

Nature lovers taking a pledge to protect trees after tying a ‘rakhi’ to the 140-year-old banyan tree, organised by Green Climate Team at the Railway Station Road, in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, August 03, 2024.

Photo:
PTI

Students hold a ‘Rakhi’ with ‘Operation Sindoor’ written on it ahead of the ‘Raksha Bandhan’ festival, in Jammu, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.

Photo:
PTI

Women tie ‘rakhis’ on the wrists of Rapid Action Force personnel as part of Raksha Bandhan festival celebrations, in Moradabad, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.

Photo:
ANI

A woman ties a rakhi on the theme of ‘Operation Sindur’ to an officer of Rapid Action Force during Rakshabandhan celebrations, at Phaphamau in Prayagraj, on Thursday, August 07, 2025.

Photo:
PTI

A girl ties a ‘rakhi’ to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the closing ceremony of Kakori Train Action centenary event, in Lucknow, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.

Photo:
PTI

Women tie Rakhis to Border Security Force (BSF) personnel ahead of the festival, in Jammu, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.

Photo:
PTI

Women show ‘Rakhis’ with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s portraits on them, ahead of the ‘Raksha Bandhan’ festival, in Vrindavan, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.

Photo:
ANI

Students of Bhaktavatsalam Memorial Women’s College tie rakhis on the wrists of Korattur police personnel to celebrate Raksha Bandhan, in Korattur, Chennai on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.

Photo:
PTI

An aerial view of a 100-ft ‘rakhi’ made by students of a school on the eve of the ‘Raksha Bandhan’ festival, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.