Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the festival at his residence with schoolchildren. | Photo: PTI
Monday’s Raksha Bandhan festival celebrated the bond between siblings with the tying of the sacred thread and vivid messages on themes like environmental conservation and social equity with an emphasis on women’s safety.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the festival at his residence with schoolchildren tying ‘rakhis’ on his wrist as he wished people prosperity and good fortune on the “auspicious” occasion.
In Kolkata, the epicentre of a nationwide protest against the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at a state-run medical college and hospital in the city, protesters tied rakhis with the message “We want justice.” Kolkata police personnel were also seen tying rakhis on protesting junior doctors.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda attended a Raksha Bandhan programme at Raj Bhavan where several women doctors, representatives of the LGBTQ community and others tied rakhis on his wrists. He pledged to support their efforts until the goal of a safer environment for women is achieved.
In a post on X, Raj Bhavan Media Cell said the delegation expressed its anguish over the gruesome incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
“They insisted on taking the investigations in the right direction to guarantee the dignity, safety and protection of women, and in particular of medical professionals,” she said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X: “Let no evil force break the sacred bond between brothers. Let us all unite in this bond of protection, love, affection and respect.”
Junior doctors from medical colleges and hospitals in Uttar Pradesh celebrated ‘Kala Raksha Bandhan’ as they continued their protest against the rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wished the people on the occasion and spoke about strengthening the spirit of harmony, cordiality and cooperation in the society, while BSP chief Mayawati prayed for increased respect and honour for all women in the country.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced the formation of ‘Samajwadi Sabla-Suraksha Vahini’ for the empowerment and protection of women and girls.
This initiative aims to promote the protection and empowerment of women by reaching out to each individual and bringing about a fundamental change in society’s attitude towards women, Yadav said in a post on X.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted a collage of photos with her brother Rahul Gandhi on ‘X’ and said brothers and sisters are comrades in struggle and partners in creating memories.
Addressing X, Rahul Gandhi wished the people on the occasion and described Raksha Bandhan as the festival of unwavering love and affection between brothers and sisters.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said of the festival that it “transcends caste, religion and creed and promotes mutual brotherhood and harmony, and highlights the equal importance of women in Indian society.”
“We hope that this festival of rakhi will strengthen the relationship of love, harmony, solidarity and mutual goodwill in the lives of the people of the country,” he said.
Several students of Delhi University celebrated Rakhsha Bandhan by tying rakhis on passersby, including Muslim men, women and children, in the Jama Masjid area of Old Delhi to spread the message of communal harmony.
The event ‘Saampradaayik Sauhard ki Rakhi Baandho’ was organised by members of the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, a student body of Delhi University representing the working class and marginalised sections.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) administration used the occasion to raise awareness about tiger protection and conservation. Women wearing tiger masks tied rakhis to men in villages and small towns surrounding the reserve.
In a post on X, the PTR said this is the third consecutive year that it has celebrated Raksha Bandhan in 130 villages and small towns adjacent to the reserve.
“Just like a sister ties a rakhi for her brother’s long life and safety, we have all vowed to protect our forest tigers and other wild animals,” she said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tied a rakhi on a tree to create awareness among people about environment conservation. He also planted a sapling at Rajdhani Vatika.
In a statement, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said, “The state government has been observing Raksha Bandhan as ‘Bihar Vriksh Suraksha Diwas’ since 2012 to protect the green cover of Bihar and save the environment.”
An organisation of devotees of Lord Ganesha offered a 13-foot by 13-foot rakhi, made with the theme of saving the environment, to their deity on Raksha Bandhan in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
A group of women from Odisha’s Ganjam district have made eco-friendly rakhis and sent them to security personnel deployed in anti-Maoist operations in the state.
Around 25 members of the women’s wing of Kalinga Vysya Sangha in the Mundamarai area near Aska have crafted around 550 innovative rakhis of different designs.
The rakhis were made using a variety of food grains and spices like rice, mung, black seed, ragi, mustard, sago etc. and other biodegradable materials, to raise environmental awareness.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, MP from Bikaner, reached a BSF forward post in Rajastha’s Khanuwali on the India-Pakistan border and celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan with women BSF personnel.
On this occasion, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma handed over Aadhaar, ration cards, Ayushman and Orunodoi cards as gifts to the residents of a government nursing home at Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati.
He also announced that doctors from the nearby civil hospital would visit the nursing home on a monthly basis to conduct free health checks.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan with children of different schools in the national capital.
“After the children tied the rakhi on him, Saxena told them and the teachers accompanying them that they were now part of his family and he would do everything possible to ensure their happiness and well-being,” according to an official statement.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 19, 2024 | 10:04 PM IS
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