How India is celebrating Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan, the festival marking the brother-sister bond, was on Saturday celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some other leaders also participating in it.

Feasting, merry-making and exchange of gifts marked the the day as girls and women, dressed in their fineries, tied ‘rakhis’ (sacred thread) on their brothers’ wrists and prayed for each other’s well-being.

At the prime minister’s 7 Race Course Road residence, some children and women from various walks of life tied rakhis on Modi’s wrist. Modi posted pictures of the day on his Twitter account with the message: “Greetings on Rakshbandhan.” Photograph: PTI

Appreciating the efforts of army soldiers protecting the nation’s borders, a woman ties a rakhi to a soldier in Surat. Photograph: PTI 

Putting religious differences aside, Muslim women tie rakhis to police officials in Thane, Mumbai. Photograph: PTI

On this occasion, all differences are kept aside and love conquers all. Women tie rakhis to a BSF personnel at the Wagah border on the outskirts of Amritsar. Photograph: Munish Sharma/Reuters

Union Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti ties ‘Rakhi’ to Minister of State Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Photograph: PTI

Women tie rakhis to President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Photograph: @RashtraptiBhvn/Twitter