PM Modi greets nation on occasion of Raksha Bandhan

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Indian citizens on the occasion of the sibling festival of Raksha Bandhan on Saturday.

Using the medium of Twitter to convey his greetings, Prime Minister Modi tweeted,

रक्षाबंधन के अवसर पर देशवासियों को हार्दिक शुभकामनायें। Greetings on Rakshabandhan.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2015

Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters. The festival is observed by Hindus, Jains, and many Sikhs.

Rakshabandhan is primarily observed in India, Mauritius and parts of Nepal. It is also celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in parts of Pakistan and by some people of Indian origin around the world. Rakshabandhan is an ancient festival, and has many myths and historic legends linked to it. For example, Rajput queens practiced the custom of sending rakhi threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood.

On Rakshabandhan, sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother's wrist. This symbolises the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her. The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu lunar-solar calendar.