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| Lesser kites in skies, many brothers missed Rakhis from sisters | | | Raman Sharma
Jammu | Aug 16
For brothers and sisters who share a special bond of love and care –even cutting across the divides which of late have been hovering over –the eve of Raksha Bandhan is one such special occasion keenly waited year over. However, the City of Temples today did not wear that festive look the way it has been a usual tradition.
With the ongoing agitation completing nearly a month and half, most of the communication means have been choked and markets are perpetually shut. A limited stock and variety of Rakhi threads, suspended postal and courier services and non-availability of sweets cast spell on the festive mood in the city. However, the festival still went of well with its religious and cultural importance.
“It's first time in my entire life that I am not with my brother, who's in CRPF and presently posted at Jalandhar” says Sudesh Rani, who is in her 50's. “I am very unlucky that I could not even post him the rakhi”, says Tania, a College student. The obvious tears in her eyes tell the rest of story. Tania’s brother is working in Pune.
Adding to this, even the SMS service in the entire state is abandoned the youngsters are unable to send Rakhi Greetings to their relatives.
For children the main attraction of this festival are kites. Previously kites shops used to be decorated with colourful kites of different types, sizes and shapes, but at present no much variety of kites and threads are available in the famous kite market of Pacca Danga in Jammu City. With prayer it is wished that next year the conflicts will be resolved and once again the excitement and festivity floats in the festival and no wrist of brother will remain without Rakhi and everyone associated with this pious festival celebrate it with maximum enthusiasm.
Rakshabandhan, the sacred festival of India, festival of love and affection of brothers and sisters, the festival that brings oneness in the family. It has not only physical importance but also moral and social significance for commitment and promise made by each brother and sister. The small peace of thread knotted on the wrist is token of love, faith, and care, it also represents the serenity and resplendence of Indian culture that how socially the people are concerned and connected with each other.
Rakshabandhan has a long history and depict the secular tradition of Indian culture and enlightens the pious relation of brother and sister irrespective of their caste and religion. The latest example of their secular festival was best shown in the recent history, when Rani Lakshi Bhai sends 'Rakhi' to Humayun, a Muslim king, who in turn promises and comes to rescue Rani Lakshmi Bhai in the time of war.. Who can forget the help extended by Lord Krishna to Paanchaali(wife of Pandavs) when she was dragged in her wragged clothes by Dushasan. There are so many other instances also where brothers even sacrificed their lives for the sister and her dignity. This year also the festival has its own significance perhaps more because to remind the people about the secular tradition of our India. But the festivity and the charm has een diminished and usurped by the present Amarnath agitation. People do not have much money to spend because the salaries and wages are not released yet. It is the first festival of the festival season and many other important festivals commenced followed by Rakshabandahn.
Earlier, a month ahead of this festival the glory and zeal could be seen. Enthusiastic girls, women and children could be seen in crowds in the streets much before the festival. The markets would have been shinning, there was a huge crowd buying gifts and coloured 'Rakhis'.
But due to the present turmoil in the state the excitement of the Rakshabandhan has lost somewhere, though the significance of the festival still remains the same. Compared to the previous seasons of the festival a big gap can be witnessed, earlier a variety of colorful, metallic rakhis could be seen displayed at hundred of small stalls, unfortunately this time there are counted shops in the market and one has limited choice to select Rakhi of her choice. Sweets shops are also closed so it is quite difficult for the sisters to decorate their
'Worship Thali' because Rakhi is tied with exchange of sweets. No fresh sweets are available in the shops owners are also suffering a huge loss in this festive season. In all this chaos, the most unfortunate are those brothers and sister who are out stationed and used to exchange Rakhis and gifts by postal and courier services. But this time there are not postal and courier service available hence there will be no Rakhis on the wrists of many brothers. The army men are the worst hit of this trouble because they remain out of their homes for years together and only on this day they get a chance to remember and to feel that at home someone is waiting for them. |
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