Indian Army Officers Celebrate Bhai Dooj At LOC In Jammu And Kashmir

Indian Army celebrates Bhai Dooj with the women and girls at the Line of Control (LOC) in Gulpur sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jawans of the Indian Army’s Durga Battalion celebrated the festival on Thursday. The women applied ‘tika’ on the foreheads of the army officers and performed other rituals.

Indian Army Celebrates Bhai Dooj

An Army officer said, “Our sisters are at home and we can’t meet them but here the sisters of Poonch celebrated the festival with us”.

Another Army officer said the women of Pooch came to celebrate the festival with them so they don’t miss their sisters. He said, “We want to celebrate this festival like every year and wish that our county continues to celebrate freedom in this way”.

ANI spoke with the women who came to celebrate Bhai Dooj with the Indian Army officers and said they wished for the jawans to have long and healthy lives. She said, “All the women of Poonch are here to celebrate Bhai Dooj with Indian Army soldiers. We celebrate Bhai Dooj at our home every year but we are here to apply tilak to the jawans”.

The festival of Bhai Dooj is similar to Raksha Bandhan and marks the bond between brothers and sisters. On Bhai Dooj, sisters pray for their brothers to have long and happy lives and apply ‘tika’ on their brother’s forehead.

This year, the festival of Bhai Dooj is being celebrated for two days. In some parts of India it was held yesterday and some parts of the country are celebrating the occasion today.

On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu greeted citizens on the occasion of Bhai Dooj and implored people to strengthen their resolve to ensure respect and safety for all women. Murmu described the festival as “a symbol of affection and trust between brothers and sisters”.

She said, “Let us further strengthen the resolve to ensure respect and safety of all women.” Murmu signed off by saying the festival “enhances the spirit of mutual brotherhood”.

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