Army and other paramilitary forces deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) and other areas of Jammu division today celebrated 'Raksha Bandhan' with fervor and gaity, officials said.
A defence spokesman said personnel of Jammu-based 'White Knight Corps' celebrated the festival in Nagrota military station here where Dainik Jagran newsgroup handed over 'rakhis' received from school children and people across the country.
The initiative to celebrate the festival of love and bonding between a brother and a sister is regularly being undertaken by Dainik Jagran group to mark solidarity with the soldiers deployed far away from their families, he said.
He said the initiative by the newsgroup was reciprocated with enthusiasm by Army Jawans by tying up the Rakhis received from the entire country.
Army persons have wished all the sisters health and happiness and also prayed for their success, the spokesman said.
"The gesture by the awaam (people) is a true reflection of the positive mindset towards the Indian Army, he said.
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He said Army also celebrated the festival at Jhullas and Daraba in Poonch and Palma garrison in Rajouri district.
This initiative to celebrate the festival was taken up by group of girls from local population of Poonch district as a mark of solidarity and respect to the soldiers deployed in border areas, the spokesman said.
During the event the women interacted with their brothers in the olive greens, and shared the experiences of tough and challenging Army life, the spokesman said, adding the women wished them health and happiness and also prayed for their success in their mission to protect the motherland.
Rakhis have also been received from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Allahabad and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jhunjunu for the soldiers that were accepted with warmth and compassion, he said.
A BSF officer said many school girls and women visited the camps and tied 'rakhis' on the jawans and officers as a goodwill gesture.
The girls of Jammu based Sunrise Public School also visited 166th battalion of CRPF headquarters at Sidrah in Jammu and tied the sacred thread on the wrists of Officers and Jawans, a CRPF spokesman said.
Principal of the School Meenakshi Choubey said the CRPF Jawans are always there for the security, happiness and prosperity of the nation in the same way in which a brother sacrifices himself for the happiness of his sister.
Commandant 166 Battalion CRPF Ashish Kumar Jha expressed gratitude for the gesture of the school girls towards Jawans.