It honors the relationship between siblings. Married women leave their husband's family for the day to return home and share their love with their brothers or a male, brotherly friend. They tie a brightly colored thread bracelet on their brothers and place a rice cake in their mouths. Men recognize their bond with their sisters by pledging to protect them and giving them sweets. In Bombay, coconuts are offered to the God of Water, Varuna.
Families often fast until early evening and visit local temples or shrines.
The evening activities usually include a special feast at home. It includes a reference guide, tips and tricks, and best of all, plenty of authentic recipes. Search the recipe page under cakes and cookies for recipes appropriate for Raksha Bandhan. Images of the baby Krishna are bathed and put into cradles. Scenes from Krishna's life are dramatized.