President Kovind, Prime Minister Modi wish country on Raksha Bandhan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind greeted the country on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Sunday.

PM Modi took to Twitter and wished the people, saying: "सभी देशवासियों को रक्षाबंधन के पावन पर्व की बहुत-बहुत शुभकामनाएं। Greetings on Raksha Bandhan." ("Wishing all the countrymen a very happy Raksha Bandhan.")

The President, in his message, expressed the desire of strengthening the sense of brotherhood among people.

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"Raksha Bandhan par sabhi desh vasiyon ko badhai. Iss parv ka ullaas humare beech bhaichaare ki bhavna ko majboot banaye aur hume aisa samaaj banana ki prerna de jahan mahilaon, visheshkar balikaon ki suraksha aur garima ka hamesha sammaan kiya jata ho- Rashtrapati Kovind," he tweeted. (I wish all the countrymen on the occasion Raksha Bandhan. I hope the festival would strengthen the feeling of brotherhood amongst us and would inspire us to become a society where women, especially girls are safe and their dignity is respected- President Kovind.)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today greeted people on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

"Heartiest greetings to all my brothers and sisters on the occasion of Rakhi Bandhan. Inspired by the ideals of Rabindranath Tagore, we observe this day as 'Sanskriti Dibas' in Bangla," Banerjee wrote on Twitter.

Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi also extended his good wishes and said the festival strengthens the support base of relationship.

"The festival symbolises not only the deep love between a sister and a brother but also strengthens the support base of relationship. All brothers and sisters observe the ceremony with affection, respect, faith and deep wish for mutual wellness," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, continuing with their annual ritual, members of the Muslim Women Foundation (MWF) in Varanasi are making rakhis for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Nazima Ansari, one of the MWF members said, “The Muslim women from our foundation living in Banaras (also known as Varanasi) had first sent rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji in 2013. Since then, this ritual has been continuing."

Ansari said that the women at the MWF consider him as an elder brother and father-like figure. She said, "We consider Narendra Modi-ji as an elder brother and father-like figure. Hence, like every year, we are sending him rakhi this year too with a hope that he would continue to protect us and help us at the time of need."