Raksha Bandhan displays the apex of humanity across the country

Ahmedabad/ Jaipur/ Allahabad, Aug 5 (ANI): Raksha Bandhan, the festival of siblings was celebrated with joy and in a sense of harmony across the country on Wednesday.

The festival, marked by sisters tying Rakhi (a sacred thread) around the wrist of their brothers, denotes the mutual bondage between them and also symbolises the duty of the brothers to protect their sisters.

In Ahmedabad, people from diverse communities exhibited the apex of humanity by observing the festival together.

It became an ideal medium to usher and strengthen communal harmony, as girls and boys from both the Hindu and Muslim communities took part in the celebrations.

Irrespective of religion, Rakhis were tied on the wrists of boys.

"Hindu and Muslims can tie Rakhi to each other. It's not necessary that only Hindus should tie Rakhis to Hindus. Muslim can also tie it to Hindu brothers. Muslim and Hindus can celebrate any festival together like this," said Mumtaz, a local resident.

In another part of the city, the Muslim dominated area of Jamalpur, Hindu and Muslim families celebrated the festival together with enthusiasm.

Gulab Khan Pathan, a resident of Jamalpur wished that the spirit of Rakhi should be kept alive for all times to come.

"Rakhi is a sacred festival. And on such an occasion we can change the atmosphere by coming together. We can do this only by coming together not by staying apart. Today the sister has tied Rakhi on my wrist and I have taken an oath to protect her in any adversity come what may," said Gulab Khan Pathan, a resident of Jabalpur.

The festival wore a green colour in Jaipur, the famed Pink City of Rajasthan.

Many residents were seen buying saplings to gift to their sisters. They were of the view that no gift can be as precious and as useful as a sapling.

While some chose to gift saplings, others chose to plant them to mark the occasion.

"I'll request all people to have less than two children and more than 10 plants. The plants will benefit you more than your children. All the parts of a tree from roots to flowers are useful," said Vijaylaxmi Gupta, a local resident.

People queued up in front of a mobile van to buy the 'green gift' for their sisters.

"Rakhi is a sacred festival for Hindus. I had planned that I should present my sister a sapling that will make her happy. When she grows up she will be happy by seeing the plant. So I have decided to gift her one sapling today," said Gautam, another resident of Jaipur who gifted a sapling to his sister.

Meanwhile, Allahabad also witnessed the green colour dominate the festival.

Some families here made Rakhis out of vegetables and tied them on the wrists of their brothers.

The womenfolk said that by doing this they wished to convey the message to the Government that they can no longer afford buying vegetables. (ANI)