Children at the Chingari Rehabilitation Centre in Bhopal celebrated Rakshabandhan and Eid last week, with members of their families and  staff at the clinic.
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu Festival that celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters; the festival is also popularly used to celebrate any brother-sister like protective relationship between men and women who are relatives or biologically unrelated. Celebrations started with a small speech by Shankar, Shadab and Vidya (Community health workers) explaining the messages and significance of Raksha Bandhan and Eid to the children. This was followed by a small inspiring speech from Apa and Didi (Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla).
The girls at Chingari then tied Rakhi’s (sacred threads) onto the hands of boys, symbolizing a sister’s love and prayers for her brother’s well-being, and the brother’s lifelong vow to protect her. Afterwards children and mothers hugged each other and greeted Eid. An open house dance followed where the children danced to some of their latest, favorite Bollywood songs.
