Threads of Patriotism: Students Send Lakhs of Rakhis to Soldiers on Raksha Bandhan

Ahead of Raksha Bandhan, students and community groups across India are coming together to honour soldiers guarding the nation’s borders by sending handmade Rakhis and Raksha Sutras under the ‘Operation Sipahi Raksha Sutra–2026’ campaign.

In Bhilai, students from schools of the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) prepared nearly 2,500 handmade Rakhis, along with greeting cards carrying messages of gratitude, respect and good wishes for the armed forces. Each Rakhi package also included a pinch of sacred soil for the traditional tilak ceremony.

The Rakhis were ceremonially handed over to the campaign’s collection team on August 5 at Supela, Bhilai. The initiative is being conducted jointly by the Purva Sainik Mahasabha and Sipahi Sangathan to strengthen the emotional bond between citizens and the armed forces.

The Bharat Scouts & Guides District Association, Bhilai has been associated with the initiative for four consecutive years, collecting student-made Raksha Sutras and sending them to soldiers stationed along India’s borders.

The campaign has also drawn significant participation from other regions. In Nagpur, Maharashtra, students prepared more than 3 lakh handmade Rakhis for soldiers deployed along border areas. In Chhattisgarh, the Women and Child Development Department prepared 1.11 lakh Rakhis, while the Bharat Scouts and Guides District Association in Kondagaon sent more than 1,000 Raksha Sutras for soldiers.

Raksha Bandhan, celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana, symbolises affection, protection and responsibility between siblings. By sending Rakhis to soldiers serving far from their families, citizens extend this sentiment to the nation’s defenders and acknowledge their service and sacrifices.

The campaign transforms the traditional festival into an expression of patriotism and gratitude, creating an emotional connection between civilians and soldiers serving in challenging and distant locations.