Rakhi or Rakshabandhan, celebrated as a mark of protection and love between siblings of the Hindu community, especially in India. Rakshabandhan celebrates the pure and unbreakable bond that exists between siblings with a promise to always be there to protect and no matter what the circumstances and in an unconditional way that is only integral to siblings.
The Rakhi Bandhan festival is very much associated with the poet Rabindranath Tagore. He transformed the religious tradition of Raksha Bandhan to a secular motif of unity among diversity and resisted Banga Bhanga (Partition of Bengal). Following Tagore’s call, hundreds of Hindus and Muslims in Kolkata, Dhaka and Sylhet came out in large numbers to tie Rakhi threads as a symbol of unity.
This year, Rakha Bandhan falls on August 22, Sunday. Mukti to celebrate the bond took an unprecedented initiative to tie up “Rakhi” on the branches of mangrove, the saviors of Sundarban thinking themselves as sisters. 10 women from Purba Sridharpur enthusiastically welcomed the initiative of Mukti.
On the 22nd morning around 10 AM, they gathered at Bhubaneswari Island under Mathurapur II block to celebrate the festival. The sisters of the mangroves tied Rakhi on the branches of 15-20 trees as they think that the mangroves are their brothers who protect them from the furies of nature such as cyclones.
They said, “Mukti has planted 54,000 mangroves in this island. Just like our brother, these trees have protected us from the devastating cyclones like Bulbul, Fani, Amphan and Yaas. We have realized that our survival depends on this forest. We have taken an oath to protect them too. We will aware people not to do any harm to the trees. We thank Mukti to involve us in the unimaginable initiative”.
Gallery link: http://localhost/mukti-old/gallery/album/women-of-purba-sridharpur-tied-rakhi-on-the-branches-of-the-mangroves