Raksha Bandhan 2026 in South Africa: date and local timings
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) 2026 falls on Thursday 27 August 2026 in Johannesburg; Friday 28 August 2026 in Durban. In India it is on Friday 28 August 2026 – the date differs because the deciding tithi reaches the local part of the day on another calendar date. The rule: Shravana pournami at sunrise. In Johannesburg the sunrise on 27 August 2026 runs 6:25 AM local time, and the tithi runs from 27 August 2026 5:39 AM to 28 August 2026 6:18 AM. The table gives the date for each city with the sunrise window and the tithi in local clock time (daylight saving applied), all computed from the NASA/JPL ephemeris for the city's own sunrise and sunset, never converted from IST. Dates here follow the Telugu (amanta) almanac rules. Many Hindu families in Fiji, Mauritius and South Africa use North-Indian (purnimanta) almanacs, which name the months differently and can differ for some vratams; the main festivals that are fixed by a tithi at a part of the day come out the same.
| Cities | Date | Sunrise | Tithi (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | Thursday 27 August 2026 | 6:25 AM | 27 August 2026 5:39 AM – 28 August 2026 6:18 AM |
| Durban | Friday 28 August 2026 | 6:15 AM | 27 August 2026 5:39 AM – 28 August 2026 6:18 AM |
FAQ
When is Raksha Bandhan 2026 in South Africa?
Raksha Bandhan 2026 is on Thursday 27 August 2026 in Johannesburg; Friday 28 August 2026 in Durban.
Is Raksha Bandhan on the same day in South Africa and India?
No, in India it is on Friday 28 August 2026. A festival is fixed by a tithi at a part of the local day, and the tithi ends at the same instant everywhere, so a city many hours behind India can reach that part of the day on a different date.
How is the date of Raksha Bandhan decided?
Shravana pournami at sunrise.
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Raksha Bandhan 2026 (India) · Festivals 2026 – South Africa · South Africa