PESHAWAR: Hindu and Sikh communities on Monday celebrated the Rakhsha Bandhan festival at their worship places here to mark the love bond between brothers and sisters.

The main event was held at the historical temple in Kalibari area, attended by members of both the communities belonging to different areas.

According to the organisers, women and girls tied rakhi (thread) around the wrists of their brothers and also exchanged greetings.

Balak Chand, a Hindu community member, said that basically rakhi symbolised the sisters’ wishes for their brothers’ long life. Baba Gurpal Singh, a Sikh community leader, said that Rakhsha Bandhan was basically a Hindu community festival, but Sikh people also celebrated it.

“We usually participate in the main event which was held at the Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal, where thousands of people from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab thronged,” he said.

Gurpal Singh said Raksha Bandhan was like Eidul Fitr of Muslims wherein brothers distributed cash and other gifts among their sisters.

“We believe everyone should serve sisters round the year,” he said.

This event, he said was meant to create awareness among the people about rights of their women relatives.

“At the festival we also promise financial support to our sisters in education, engagements and marriages,” he added.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2021