India celebrates Rakhi

Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan is a festival that symbolizes the bond between brothers and sisters. It might only have a small ceremony of tying a Rakhi by the sisters to their brothers but in the Indian mindset the festival occupies an extremely special place.

As people from the around country celebrate the occasion, even the two most powerful personalities in the country, Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi celebrated the festival at their respective residences.

A physically disabled Indian boy ties a 'Rakhi' onto the wrist of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a ceremony observing the festival of Raksha Bandhan at his residence in New Delhi. (AFP Photo)

The markets around the country were flooded with Rakhi sellers in the days leading to the festival. In the picture, women shop for Rakhis in Jammu. (AP Photo)

A nun ties a Rakhi to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a ceremony at his residence. (AFP Photo)

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also celebrated the festival at her residence with school children. In this picture, she ties a Rakhi to children at her residence. (AFP Photo)

A young girl chooses a rakhi, at an exhibition in Amritsar. (AFP Photo)

School kids make a human chain in the shape of a 'Rakhi' on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan festival in Chikmagalur on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

Indian school girls tie rakhi onto the wrist of a school boy on the eve of the Raksha Bandhan festival at Sun Valley Public School in Amritsar. (AFP Photo)