Traditionally, the festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. However, its meaning extends far beyond that
A common festive element seen everywhere was the thali (plate) that included rakhis and other items for Raksha Bandhan rituals
Women tied rakhis on the wrists of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at the Wagah Border Post, about 35 km from Amritsar
At an orphanage in Jammu, children tied rakhis on each other's wrists, deepening the meaning of the festival and reaffirming that the bond of protection and care extends beyond blood relations
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a special Raksha Bandhan sculpture at Puri Beach in Odisha, urging people to opt for Indian crafts and local goods, including rakhis (Pic/Sudarsan Pattnaik on X)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political leaders also shared glimpses of their Raksha Bandhan celebrations. PM Modi observed the festival at his residence, with school students and others tying rakhis on his wrist
President Droupadi Murmu celebrated the festival at Rashtrapati Bhavan with children from different schools and organisations
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