Bond of harmony

Women of the Indian Border Security Force tied Rakhi--a thread symbolising the bond between a brother and sister--round the wrists of Bangladeshi men arriving in India yesterday.

The men, apparently overwhelmed by the gesture, also tied the threads round the wrists of their “Indian sisters”.

Some of them blessed the BSF women and handed them packs of sweets and candies.

Bangladesh Border Guards also celebrated the festival with BSF for an hour at the border in Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur.

They distributed sweetmeats among each other.

"Such festivities will strengthen the relationship between us," Mahbub Alam, a BGB camp commander in Hakimpur, said.

Mithel Shekhar, a camp commander of BSF said, "We are hoping such celebrations will strengthen all of us.”

The BSF women and the Bangladeshi men wished good relations between the people of the countries.

In Hindu tradition, the sisters fast, tie the thread round the wrist of brothers and offer them sweets on the day of the festival.

The brothers, in turn, give their sisters gifts and wish them well.

The festival was celebrated in every nook and corner of India yesterday.

In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP observed the festival through meetings, processions and rallies.