Pavitropana

In the state of Gujarat the Raksha Bandhan day is celebrated as Pavitropana. Being great devotees of lord Shiva, the Gujaratis offer prayers to the three eyed God on Raksha Bandhan. The Gujaratis offer water to lord Shiva throughout the year. Shravan Purnima day is the culmination of those prayers. The Shravan Purnima is considered an auspicious day for the final poojan of the three eyed God (lord Shiva).

On the Rakhi Purnima people pray to God for forgiveness for their past mistakes and sins. This ceremony is called Pavitropana. In the ceremony a few twisted threads of cotton are drenched in panchagaivya (a mixture of cow ghee, milk, curd, urine and excreta) and then wrapped around the Shivalingas. The twisted threads of cotton are immersed in the panchgaivya for purification.