Raksha Bandhan is a special festival celebrated in most parts of India. It marks the bond of everlasting protection between brothers and sisters. Unlike rest of India where this festival is celebrated with lots of emotions, the UT of Jammu and Kashmir hardly sees such celebration. However, unlike previous years this year Raksha Bandhan was celebrated for the first time on the soils of Kashmir when few young ladies from Pune decided to celebrate the hallowed and sacred festival of Raksha Bandhan with their Kashmiri brothers. Celebrations were carried out with full zeal and vigour in the mesmerizing villages of Machhal, Pushwari, Katwar and Dabpal from 19th to 22nd Aug 2021. The event was coordinated by Indian Army at Machhal valley. It became a grand success due to the initiative of few young ladies who volunteered to come forward for such a noble cause. Miss Gauri Hemant Kinikar along with her mother Mrs Sadhana Kinikar, Miss Shatakshi Kinikar who is Gauri’s sister and two of her colleagues, Miss Shivani Joshi and Miss Saie Nandukar from Law College, Pune participated in this event. They celebrated the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan not only with their fauji brothers but also with their Kashmiri brothers.Ms Gauri Kinikar and her colleague’s decision to come to a far-flung area for such a noble cause was not an easy one. Highly motivated defence aspirants, these young ladies worked day and night to gather funds through fund raising and launched online campaigns for this noble cause. A large number of people from not only Maharashtra but also from across India volunteered and contributed to their campaign. It was heartening to know that the campaign was oversubscribed and a large number of people all across India contributed for the same. The celebrations were conducted in Machhal village where eminent civil dignitaries, Army officers, local heads and villagers were present. The event culminated with the Raksha Bandhan celebrations at Machhal garrison on 22nd Aug 21 which was conducted on a large scale where a large number of local youth as well as army personnels participated in the event. The sight of tying rakhis by these young ladies to their Kashmiri brothers was eye alluring and remarkable. A large proportion of local youth as well as army personnels were seen with moist eyes and of mixed feelings during the celebrations.When asked about the source behind their motivation for such an event, Ms Khinikar proudly said that she feels that her Kashmiri brothers need to know more about the country and make them feel to be part of this great nation. Ms Shatakshi said that she is so glad to see the kind of inquisitiveness portrayed by the young girls of Machhal valley towards progression and self awareness amongst them. Ms Sadhana was full of tears to see her daughters who were tying the Rakhi to Kashmir brothers as well as army personnel. “I am so proud to be the mother of them who has come up with such an initiative and the boldness exhibited in doing this event”, she replied. Events like these will work as a catalyst to further bridge the gap between Kashmiris and rest of the Indians post abrogation. “I miss my sister and the celebrations we have at home, but I’m glad and cheerful to see our young sisters who came all the way from Pune to tie the Rakhi and this reminds me of my sister tying the Rakhi to me” said one of the soldier who was in tears as he is overwhelmed with emotions as they tie rakhi to him on the eve of Raksha Bandhan. The villagers of Machhal, Pushwari, Katwar and Dabpal were full of awe and curiosity to see such an activity in Machhal valley, they displayed full enthusiasm to participate in this event and accept the greetings of sisters who had come far away to their hometown to tie the Rakhi. This is for the first time that a group of girls have come to tie Rakhi for Kashmiri brothers. “This is an emotional moment, we are so happy to see our sisters coming all the way from Pune to our villages to tie the Rakhi on this auspicious day. We are so delighted and our emotions are overwhelming as this is for the first time such a noble gesture is been shown to us in our village, we are so proud to be part of this great nation” said the Sarpanch of Machhal village. The villages later invited the girls to their home for a cup of tea and also for a meaningful interaction. The young girls of Machhal village was so inquisitive to see their elder sisters tying Rakhi to the Kashmiri brothers, seeing this they came forward to render a hand in performing this sweet gesture, the young girls from village also interacted with them and the discussion will surely help them to understand the good deeds which will come in hand for their future endeavours. Such events hold an emotional touch wherein the sentinels of our nation are being greeted with Rakhi and sweets which explicitly increases their morale and feeling of oneness. The event holds special significance, especially on the eve of completion of two years of abrogation of Article 370. Many think tanks especially our adversaries were predicting a different outcome of the decision of abrogation of Article 370, however the situation had turned out to be completely opposite. Kashmir right now is in the cross-road, where the most convenient and reasonable path for the Kashmiris would be to embrace this nation to be their own. Abrogation of Article 370 has proved to be a revolutionary step in bringing the Kashmiris closer to mainstream India. A perfect example was the recent active participation of local populace in Independence Day celebrations and the most recent of the Raksha Bandhan Celebrations. Each Rakhi tied to the wrists of these brothers amplifies the love and bonding between Indians across states. The promise to keep the nation safe is strengthened for soldiers with Rakhi shining beneath their weapons.
PUNE GIRLS TRAVEL TO LOC TO CELEBRATE RAKSHA BANDHAN WITH KASHMIRI AND SOLDIER BROTHERS
