Raksha Bandhan celebrated in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 10: Delhiites Sunday celebrated Raksha Bandhan, a festival that marks the bond of love between brothers and sisters.

Across the city, tens of thousands of young and older women tied rakhi on their brothers' wrists, receiving gifts in return.

"My brother surprised me this time and came home for rakhi. I am super excited," Rashmi Soni, a 25-year-old living in Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi, told IANS.

Her brother gifted her a new mobile phone.

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year on the full moon day of the Shravan month of Hindu calendar.

Women in the capital got free rides in public buses Sunday. Delhi Metro ran extra trips to cater to the rush of commuters.

In many instances, women used online web sites to send their love to their brothers.

"There were lots of online portals with gift hampers. I am glad my rakhi has reached my brother in Patna on time," Kavita Shah, 30, told IANS.

Even on Sunday, women and men thronged shops to do last minute purchases of sweets, gifts and rakhis.

Women from different walks of life, including widows from Vrindavan and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, tied rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Schoolchildren and specially-abled children as well as women MPs from Gujarat also tied him rakhi, an official statement said.

IANS