President Pranab Mukherjee with the students on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan at Rashtrapati Bhavan. (Press Trust of India)
Raksha Bandhan, the festival marking the brother-sister bond, was today celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some other leaders also participating in it.
Feasting, merry-making and exchange of gifts marked the the day as girls and women, dressed in their fineries, tied 'rakhis' (sacred thread) on their brothers' wrists and prayed for each other's well-being.
President Pranab Mukherjee, PM Modi, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and several other leaders greeted the people on the occasion.
In his message, Mr Mukherjee said, "The thread of Rakhi binds sisters & brothers in an inseparable bond of love and trust."
The President also accepted greetings from women and little girls at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on the festival.
At the Prime Minister's 7 Race Course Road residence, some children and women from various walks of life tied rakhis on Mr Modi's wrist.
He posted pictures of the day on his Twitter account with the message: "Greetings on Rakshbandhan."
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tied a rakhi on Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu who drove to her residence for the purpose.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated 'Raksha Bandhan' with students from various schools in Delhi.
A group of children visited the Home Minister at his residence on the festive occasion, tied 'rakhi' on his wrist and wished him.
Mr Singh also offered the students gifts and wished them a bright future.
In Chandigarh, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki celebrated with a group of women and girls tying rakhis on his wrist at Raj Bhavan.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar celebrated the festival at his residence, where large number of women, including those from 'Brahma Kumaris' (a spiritual organisation) and children tied rakhi on his wrist.
Mrs Gandhi described the festival as a "celebration of mutual bonding between people, as indeed the affection between a brother and a sister".
She hoped the festival "as always will foster bonds and honour amongst people".
Girls from schools and colleges also tied rakhi on the wrist of BSF jawans, posted on the Wagah border.
In a touching instance of sibling love, 65-year-old Amritpal Kaur in Gurdaspur visited the memorial of her brother Kamaljeet Singh, who died fighting Pakistani soldiers in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a tradition she has kept alive for the last over 40 years.