Tag: Raksha Bandhan

shuktara

Raksha Bandhan at Anna Bari

Sanjay who came to shuktara in 2000 and is now living independently with his wife and daughter arrived yesterday morning to tie Rakhi at Anna Bari.

Raksha Bandhan is a day that celebrates the bond and love between a brother and sister, or siblings in general.

The words “raksha bandha” means “the bond of safety and security” that siblings promise each other, no matter the circumstances.

shuktara Raksha Bandhan
Sumi, Munni and Sanjay
shuktara homes for young people with disabilities

Raksha Bandan at shuktara

Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brother and sister. Traditionally sisters tie a "rakhi" (thread or ornamental bracelet) around the right wrist of their brothers.

Every year a few women associated with shuktara go to the boys' home and tie rakhis on all of the boys and young men - as you can see they are absolutely delighted to participate in this celebration of the bond between siblings.

According to Wikipedia this "transformed tradition" also happens outside the shuktara homes:

"Among women and men who are not blood relatives, there is also a transformed tradition of voluntary kin relations, achieved through the tying of rakhi amulets, which have cut across caste and class lines, and Hindu and Muslim divisions."

shuktara home for kids with disabilities - 2016 Raksha Bandhan - Lali, Guria, and David

Rakhi at shuktara

Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrated throughout India on a full moon day when traditionally a sister ties a Rakhi on her brother's wrist. According to Wikipedia:

The festival celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters. It is also popularly used to celebrate any brother-sister relationship between men and women who may or may not be biologically related.

Pappu Mishra, Somnath Sardar and David took Sunil to Lula Bari in the afternoon where the girls had all made threads for the boys in shuktara.

Sunil was the centre of attention and each girl put a Rakhi on his wrist as well as on Pappu, Somnath and David.

Because this is shuktara where equality rules Somnath and Pappu also tied threads for each of the girls!

To find out more about the young people of shuktara please click here.