Rakhi celebrated with traditional fervor

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi tying 'Rakhi' on the wrist of a child, during the celebration of Raksha Bandhan fesitival at her residence in New Delhi

NEW DELHI: Rakshabandhan was on Wednesday celebrated amidst traditional fervor across the country with special programs being held, free transport being offered to women and top political leaders spending time with school children.

Sisters, dressed in their fineries, visited their brothers with gifts and sweets, put 'tilak' on their foreheads and tied colorful rakhis on their wrists apart while praying for their well being.

President Pratibha Patil celebrated Rakshabandhan with 85 school children from 17 schools in Delhi. Several of the children tied rakhis on her.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur spent time with school children in celebrating Rakshabandhan.

In a message on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the festival reinforces the sanctity of our traditional familial ties.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition L K Advani also celebrated the festival with children.

A group of mentally challenged children from the national capital celebrated Rakshabandhan with Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

The Rakhi spirit gripped several places between 11 am and 12 pm, a period considered 'auspicious' by almanacs.
The Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh governments offered free travel for women in state-run transport systems to facilitate their journey to their brothers' house.

The Himachal government announced a holiday for women employees and most of them took this opportunity and did not turn up for work, sources in the state secretariat said.

Volunteers of the Jaipur cancer relief society tied rakhi on the wrist of cancer patients in the Pink City. A similar event was organized at "avedna ashram", a home for terminally ill patients in Santokhaba Memorial Hospital.

A diamond rakhi was offered at Shriji Digamber Jain temple in Jaipur.

In Lucknow, several girls of Hindu community tied rakhis on their Muslim brethren.

-PTI