Alerts

Raksha Bandhan: Of brothers and sisters

An Indian street child looks at his rakhi tied to his wrist by a member of a voluntary organisation in Kolkata on August 2, 2012. The annual festival of Raksha Bandhan, which commemorates the abiding ties between siblings of opposite sex, is marked by a very simple ceremony in which a woman ties a rakhi, which may be a colourful thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string, around the wrist of her brother. PHOTO: AFP

India's President Pranab Mukherjee (front L) distributes sweets among school children who tied "Rakhi" on his wrist at India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi August 2, 2012. Rakhi is also the name of a Hindu festival, also known as Raksha Bandhan, during which a sister ties one or more of the sacred threads onto her brother's wrist to ask for his protection. PHOTO: REUTERS

School children tie "Rakhi" on the wrist of India's President Pranab Mukherjee (L) at India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi August 2, 2012. Rakhi is also the name of a Hindu festival, also known as Raksha Bandhan, during which a sister ties one or more of the sacred threads onto her brother's wrist to ask for his protection. PHOTO: REUTERS

An Indian member of a voluntary organisation ties a rakhi bracelet around the wrists of street children in Kolkata on August 2, 2012. The annual festival of Raksha Bandhan, which commemorates the abiding ties between siblings of opposite sex, is marked by a very simple ceremony in which a woman ties a rakhi, which may be a colourful thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string, around the wrist of her brother. PHOTO: AFP

An Indian member of a voluntary organisation ties a rakhi bracelet around the wrist of a visualy challenged devotee as others look on in Kolkata on August 2, 2012. The annual festival of Raksha Bandhan, which commemorates the abiding ties between siblings of opposite sex, is marked by a very simple ceremony in which a woman ties a rakhi, which may be a colourful thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string, around the wrist of her brother. PHOTO: AFP

An Indian inmate of the Sabarmati Central Jail (R) looks on as his sister ties a rakhi bracelet to his wrist during the Raksha Bandhan festival in Ahmedabad on August 2, 2012. The annual festival of Raksha Bandhan, which commemorates the abiding ties between siblings of opposite sex, is marked by a very simple ceremony in which a woman ties a rakhi, which may be a colourful thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string, around the wrist of her brother. PHOTO: AFP

An Indian inmate of the Sabarmati Central Jail (L) ties a rakhi bracelet on her brother during the Raksha Bandhan festival in Ahmedabad on August 2, 2012. The annual festival of Raksha Bandhan, which commemorates the abiding ties between siblings of opposite sex, is marked by a very simple ceremony in which a woman ties a rakhi, which may be a colourful thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string, around the wrist of her brother. PHOTO: AFP

An Indian inmate of the Sabarmati Central Jail (L) reacts as she applies a Tilak on the forehead of her brother after tying a rakhi bracelet to his wrist during the Raksha Bandhan festival in Ahmedabad on August 2, 2012. The annual festival of Raksha Bandhan, which commemorates the abiding ties between siblings of opposite sex, is marked by a very simple ceremony in which a woman ties a rakhi, which may be a colourful thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string, around the wrist of her brother. PHOTO: AFP

Women tie a "Rakhi" on the wrist of a man at the Sonagachi red-light area in Kolkata August 2, 2012. Rakhi is also the name of a Hindu festival, also known as Raksha Bandhan, during which a sister ties one or more of the sacred threads onto her brother's wrist to ask for his protection. PHOTO: REUTERS

A supporter ties a 'Rakhi' - Sacred Thread - onto his wrist of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare's team member Arvind Kejriwal on the eighth day of his hunger strike in New Delhi on August 2, 2012. Indian activist Anna Hazare, who galvanised the country last year with his hunger strikes against corruption, began a new fast July 29 to press demands for a crackdown on official graft. PHOTO: AFP

A supporter of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare (R) is greeted after tying a 'Rakhi' - Sacred Thread - onto his wrist on the fifth day of Hazare's hunger strike in New Delhi on August 2, 2012. Indian activist Anna Hazare, who galvanised the country last year with his hunger strikes against corruption, began a new fast July 29 to press demands for a crackdown on official graft. PHOTO: AFP

A supporter of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare (R) marks his forehead after tying a 'Rakhi' - Sacred Thread - onto his wrist on the fifth day of Hazare's hunger strike in New Delhi on August 2, 2012. Indian activist Anna Hazare, who galvanised the country last year with his hunger strikes against corruption, began a new fast July 29 to press demands for a crackdown on official graft. PHOTO: AFP

A supporter of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare (R) ties a 'Rakhi' - Sacred Thread - onto his wrist on the fifth day of his hunger strike in New Delhi on August 2, 2012. Indian activist Anna Hazare, who galvanised the country last year with his hunger strikes against corruption, began a new fast July 29 to press demands for a crackdown on official graft. PHOTO: AFP

An Indian man buys roses with 'rakhi' - sacred threads - on his wrist in Hyderabad on August 2, 2012 during the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan. The festival celebrates the eternal bonds between sisters and brothers, symbolised by the Rakhis which sisters the around their brothers' wrists. PHOTO: AFP

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee (L) interacts with a young boy after he tied a 'Rakhi' - Sacred Threads - onto his wrist at The Presidential Palace in New Delhi on August 2, 2012, during the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan. The festival celebrates the eternal bonds between sisters and brothers, symbolised by the Rakhis which sisters the around their brothers' wrists. PHOTO: AFP

An Indian visually girl ties a 'Rakhi' - Sacred Thread - onto the wrist of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee (L) at The Presidential Palace in New Delhi on August 2, 2012, during the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan. The festival celebrates the eternal bonds between sisters and brothers, symbolised by the Rakhis which sisters the around their brothers' wrists. PHOTO: AFP

An Indian girl ties a 'Rakhi' - Sacred Thread - onto the wrist of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee (L) at The Presidential Palace in New Delhi on August 2, 2012, during the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan. The festival celebrates the eternal bonds between sisters and brothers, symbolised by the Rakhis which sisters the around their brothers' wrists. PHOTO: AFP

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee (2L) interacts with children after they tied a 'Rakhi' - Sacred Thread - onto his wrist at The Presidential Palace in New Delhi on August 2, 2012, during the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan. The festival celebrates the eternal bonds between sisters and brothers, symbolised by the Rakhis which sisters the around their brothers' wrists. PHOTO: AFP

Festival celebrates eternal bonds between sisters and brothers, symbolised by Sacred Threads.

Usman Ahmad

Aug 3, 2012 - 6:57PM

Reply

Very beautiful pictures. Pictures of kids with the Indian President were very cute. The Pictures of inmates being tied Rakhi were emotional.

Recommend
sajid

Aug 4, 2012 - 5:52AM

Reply

@usman
you got very impressed, move to india.

Recommend
unbeliever

Aug 4, 2012 - 10:05AM

Reply

@sajid:

even your country has some 12 lac hindus, or do you consider them, as non-pakistanis…

Recommend
Wise guy

Aug 4, 2012 - 11:02AM

Reply

Sajid- I bet you are never happy because there is so much hate inside of you while the rest of the world has moved on.. Keep on hating and destroying your own self

Recommend
MZK

Aug 4, 2012 - 2:33PM

Reply

Dear All,
Being Muslim, please don not promote events like Rakhi, Basant and other activities that donot belong to Shariah.Recommend
Giri

Aug 4, 2012 - 9:40PM

Reply

@Sajid – hatred at its peak.

Recommend
Ali tanoli,

Aug 4, 2012 - 9:59PM

Reply

kids are cute.

Recommend
Singh

Aug 5, 2012 - 10:05AM

Reply

@MZK:
Move to Saudi. It is Indian sub continent.

Recommend
outlaw

Aug 5, 2012 - 12:10PM

Reply

We need to learn co-existence, interesting festival.

Recommend
MZK

Aug 5, 2012 - 1:04PM

Reply

@Singh
For your kind information i’ve adressed “Muslims” only. So, please be calm and keep “kaam sy kaam”.

Recommend
Amit

Aug 5, 2012 - 6:53PM

Reply

@MZK
Do you realize that you are an exhibition of lslamist supremacism? Check out some 1930s and 1940s European history to learn why that is disturbing.

Recommend
RH

Aug 6, 2012 - 4:04AM

Reply

@MZK: I’m a Muslim, and I’m telling you to keep “kaam sy kaam” and not visit websites if you don’t agree with their content.

Recommend
Jamshed

Aug 7, 2012 - 9:34PM

Reply

@MZK:
Hi MZK. Planes, trains, autos, internet, medicines, cell phones, A/c, fans, computers are also not from age of shariat. Kindly use donkeys/ camels and please dont use kaafir technology until you realise that the problem with muslims is regressive people like you. I dont agree with the splattering of bollywood news on some Pakistani news websites as I dont watch Indian films but with the absurd assertion you made, i just couldn’t sit still – had to say something.

Now using your twisted logic, I suppose that the Burmese military are absolutely right in their actions in Burma. The Rohingyas deserve what they are getting as they are a minority and the Rohingya religion/ practises do not “belong in buddhism”

Recommend
mikek

Aug 8, 2012 - 10:39AM

Reply

Very strange about our media, maybe supporting by India. How come Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah’s birthday or death aniversary is not even mentioned but they sure give big articles of Basat and Rasksa Banghon.

Recommend
Muhammad

Aug 8, 2012 - 6:42PM

Reply

@mikek:
celebrate the living not the dead.

Recommend
rajesh

Aug 8, 2012 - 7:26PM

Reply

@milek why it is strange for u to mention raksha bandhan, on ET. u have small hindu minority in pakistan or u dont cansider them pakistani.
it is hindu festival not indian

Recommend
aFtab

Aug 9, 2012 - 7:32PM

Reply

@Rajesh, Amit, Singh, Unbeliever including Usman..it’s such pity to see all those pro-indios are peeping here and there on a so-called Pki-Tribune which is not even a pakistani media thinking as if u r here to defend ur indio idealogy..Go and see how jealous u r of Pakistan by banning a talent Rahat Fateh in ur devasted land. No worries for Pak as they can be victorious in any field staged by level playing minds not alike olympics zionist staged theatre.

Recommend
Mazhar Bari

Aug 14, 2012 - 2:23AM

Reply

@sajid:
you sad loser get a life!

Recommend
Kamalpreet Singh

Aug 14, 2012 - 4:04AM

Reply

Good to see a .pk web screening Rakhi.
Good work editors.

Big time ,,, change is inevitable …..

Recommend
razzmazz

Aug 17, 2012 - 12:18AM

Reply

@sajid:
He’d be very welcome….all who love are, no one who hates isRecommend
razzmazz

Aug 17, 2012 - 12:28AM

Reply

@MZK:
wow..I’m actually not surprised by your thoughts; I live and work in Delhi – a couple of years ago a Muslim colleague, educated and an HR professional like myself came up to another colleague who was a Hindu and said ‘..aapne mujhe aaj Eid Mubarak wish nahin kiya’…it was Eid day, which usually comes around Diwali, in this case, this was a few days after Diwali. The Hindu colleague answered, ‘..aapne bhi mujhe Diwali wish nahin ki thi…’ – what would you have done at that point? One, I would never demand of another person who is not of follower of my religion to wish me on my religious festivals and even if I had the cheek to do so, if I was reminded that I too had failed on that count, I’d walk away chastened but what this gentleman came up with was astounding to me then but after reading your comment above and similar ones on other forums, I’m not at all surprised now. He actually offered this argument’…hamare mazhab mein hum kisi aur mazhab waalon ko wish nahin karte…’ and waited expectantly for an answer! well, he got a fitting one in ‘…hamare dharm mein bhi nahin karte…’ which isn’t really true as Hindus are required to respect all forms God and consequently, all religions and messengers of holy thought……but it served him right at that point.

Recommend