BSF celebrates Eid, Holi at Jammu border

Octroi (BOP) Suchetgarh (IB) Feb.28 (ANI): Taking a break from their security duties, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel celebrated the twin festivals of Eid and Holi as a symbol of communal harmony to spread the message of unity among diversity at the India-Pakistan international border in Kashmir.

At Octroi border observation post (BOP) in Suchet Garh Sub Sector of R.S.Pura of Jammu and Kashmir, the twin festivals brought a much-needed breather from security duties for the paramilitary personnel.

Thus the BOP echoed with laughter, songs and cheering as the personnel rent the air with "Holi Re Holi" greetings.

Sounds of happy laughter, songs and cheering rang out from the check post.

"I want to tell you that today (Saturday) is Eid festival and with this you can see that we are drenched in colours. So we are celebrating both the festivals jointly and on behalf of my Jawans, I want to convey,Eid and Holi greetings to all the people of my Nation ," said Akram Khan, Depuity Commandant, Border Security Force(BSF).

The BSF personnel posted in Suchet Garh region of Jammu also danced to the tunes of Holi songs for an escape from the dreary and tense daily regimen.We are on the border and this is for the first time that Holi and Eid are on the same day. After so many years, I have never seen this before but I want to tell you that here people from all the religions are together and I am very excited that two festivals are being celebrated on the same day," said Dalbir Singh Sub Inspector Border Security force.

Infiltration bids and cease-fire violations have increased along International Border and LOC, thereby resulting in round the clock duty and extra vigil for the BSF Personals posted in Jammu and Kashmir resulting in tension and anxiety.

" We do not take it as border tension, but as our responsibility. We are performing our duty with utmost responsibility. We are far away from our family and we do miss them, but we cannot compare them with our duty. So, whenever there is a festival, we celebrate it together and the best thing this time is that Holi and Eid festivals are on the same day and everyone is doubly excited," added Dalbir Singh.

Eid-e-Milad-ul Nabi celebrates the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed and Holi is the vibrant festival of colors that signals the onset of spring. By Tahir Nadeem Khan (ANI)