Children make a beeline to Raj Bhavan on Raksha Bandhan

Schoolchildren tie a 'rakhi' to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan taking part in Raksha Bandhan celebrations at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad on Thursday. -Photo: Nagara Gopal

The majestic Durbar Hall at the Raj Bhavan was choc-a-bloc on Thursday with scores of children waiting to tie a ‘rakhi’ to the First Citizen E.S.L. Narasimhan.

Normally strait-jacketed, staff of the Raj Bhavan, were at their friendliest in according a warm reception to all and sundry who turned up because it was thrown open for the public on Rakhi Purnima.

All eyes were on the children who formed a significant chunk of the visitors, wearing white cotton bands on their arms by way of ornamentation.

Alert though the guards were, security appeared to be the least ever on the joyous occasion for the few hours from 11 a.m. Matching the levels of enthusiasm that the younger lot displayed, the Governor said Raksha Bandhan was an occasion when siblings tied a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists symbolising their love and prayed to the Almighty for their siblings’ well being, while the brothers came up with gifts of all kinds and reinforced their life-long protection.

“Let us resolve to uphold the dignity and respect that women are given in our society and also pledge to ensure that our girls feel safe and secure always,” he said, in a sombre tone. When presspersons wanted to have a word with him, he regretted that the electronic media repeatedly beamed minute details on the girl child and women or of road accidents instead of going to the victims’ help. “Present facts but do so with a human touch,” he said. Among those who visited the Raj Bhavan included former Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy, apart from those belonging to the Brahmakumaris and a few other organisations.

At CM’s residence

The Raksha Bandhan festival at Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s Camp Residence on Thursday was what could be termed ‘strictly a family affair’ with his five sisters tying ‘rakhis’ on their brother’s wrist.

Also, his daughter and Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha tied a ‘rakhi’ on her brother and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao’s wrist. The Chief Minister’s grandchildren also did the same to their siblings. Mr. Rama Rao’s daughter Alekhya tied a ‘rakhi’ on her brother Himanshu’s wrist and both of them gorged on sweets soon after.