Local women tie Rakhis to CRPF officers, Jawans in Srinagar
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Soldiers and paramilitary personnel posted far away from home along the Line of Control and International Border in the Jammu region celebrated rakshabandhan on Sunday as school girls and women tied them rakhis to mark the festival of brother-sister bond while a group of local women in Srinagar tied Rakhis to CRPF officers and jawans.
Events were held at several security installations and camps to celebrate the day, with a number of videos of locals tying Rakhi to army, paramilitary and police personnel going viral on social media.
‘Bharat Raksha Parv’ was organised at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) group headquarters in Jammu, a spokesperson of the paramilitary force said.
“Rakhis were tied on the wrists of officers and jawans, and tilak was applied to their forehead by visitors, who also prayed for their long life,” the spokesperson said.
Girls of the National Cadet Corps’ group at the Government Degree College in Bhaderwah in Doda district tied rakhis to soldiers at an army camp.
In a video, a girl, who tied a Rakhi to a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at a camp along the India-Pakistan border in Samba district, was heard saying, “Today, we are celebrating the festival depicting brother-sister bond with our jawans, who are miles away from their families guarding the borders of the country.”
“The purpose of our visit was to make sure that jawans do not feel that their sisters are not with them on this important day,” the girl said.
A woman said she was happy to see the smile on the faces of the BSF personnel.
“We are thankful to our sisters who joined us in the celebrations and made us feel at home despite being away from our families,” a BSF officer said.
In another video, Muslim girls were seen tying rakhis to army jawans near the Line of Control in Mendhar in Poonch district.
Residents of Adarsh Colony in Udhampur district set an example of communal harmony with Hindus and Muslims celebrating the festival together.
A number of Hindu women tied Rakhis to their Muslim neighbours, while a Muslim woman also knotted the thread to a Hindu, according to reports.
The festival was celebrated with fervour across the Jammu region.
Meanwhile, in order to celebrate Raksha Bandhan, a group of local women in Srinagar visited CRPF camp of 144 Battalion at Boulevard here and tied Rakhis on the wrists of the officers and soldiers who are posted away from their homes.
On the occasion, the women exchanged sweets with the soldiers while the Jawans exchanged gifts with these women.
Speaking on the occasion, Ajay Verma, second in command (2IC) of 144 BN, said that Raksha Bandhan is a festival to celebrate the bond between a brother and sister where brother takes the pledge to protect his sister.
He added that as the soldiers remain away from their homes so the local women today visited our Battalion and tied rakhis on soldiers’ wrists who reciprocated by giving away gifts to them.
He also expressed gratitude to the women who visited here and tied rakhis on their wrists and said that they feel honored by the gesture and affection.
The event was organized by CRPF 144 BN in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.