Carrying forward a practice that has become a custom for Raksha Bandhan every year, local women at Churanda village in Uri sector on the Line of Control (LoC) turned out in numbers to celebrate the eternal sibling bond with Army jawans.
Fostering a deeper connect and camaraderie with the men in uniform, the local women were pictured tying rakhis on the wrists of the jawans on the eve of Raksha Bandhan.
Amid frequent exchanges of fire between two forces on the LoC, the festival of Raksha Bandhan serves as an occasion to forget the hostilities and celebrate sibling love. The Army personnel, posted in the border areas, far away from their homes and loved ones, renew their pledge to ensure public safety as they are tied rakhis.
“This is our expression of brotherly love towards the soldiers, who always at hand to help, support and protect us. They celebrate Eid with us. We are here to acknowledge their services and celebrate Raksha Bandhan,” said one of the women who participated in the event.
During the celebration, women from nearby villages tied the sacred threads of sibling bond to the soldiers, expressing their gratitude for the services that they render. In return, the soldiers pledged to protect and safeguard the local residents from any harm.
The event was laced with fun, celebration, and sombre moments as jawans from diverse cultural backgrounds came together to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with their siblings.
The Raksha Bandhan celebration on the LOC not only strengthens the emotional bond between soldiers and civilians but also acts as a medium to convey the message of peace and love amid the hostilities with neighbouring Pakistan.
It also serves to promote the idea that love and compassion can transcend borders and boundaries.
Sacred threads of Sibling bond
Far away from their siblings on Raksha Bandhan, the security personnel posted on the frontiers got a taste of sibling love as local schoolgirls tied rakhis on their hands in a show of gratitude for the services they render to ensure civilian protection.
In the Akhnoor sector of Jammu & Kashmir, schoolgirls were pictured tying rakhis on the hands of Indian Army jawans. They were even seen applying ’tilak’ on their foreheads and offering prayers for them.
“They are here to protect us. So I felt it was my responsibility to acknowledge their services and do our sibling duty for them. We believe that the rakhis we tied on their hands will protect them,” a schoolgirl told media.
“The purpose of our visit was to ensure that the jawans posted on the borders, far away from their homes and loved ones, do not feel left out of the Raksha Bandhan celebrations. We are here as their sisters. We prayed to the Almighty to keep them safe,” Geeta Devi, the local sarpanch, who organised the Raksha Bandhan celebrations with the forces, told media.
At the international border in the Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel celebrated Raksha Bandhan with a group of schoolchildren.
The schoolgirls, clad in their best and brightest, were seen tying the sacred thread of sibling love and bonding on the hands of the BSF personnel.
Also, in Udhampur in Jammu &Kashmir, a group of schoolgirls came forward and celebrated Raksha Bandhan with jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
They celebrated Raksha Bandhan with the personnel, following time-tested rituals, and also exchanged sweets with them.
(with inputs from ANI)
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