Vadodara’s sisters will put a smile on the soldiers at Galwan

Festivals celebrate the feeling of togetherness. In India, there are many auspicious days which are celebrated with great pomp and spirit. Rakhi Purnima or Rakshabandhan is one of the ancient festivals which signifies ‘tying the knot for protection’. It symbolizes the relationship of a sister and her brother. As per the tradition, the sister ties a thread of protection on the wrist of her brother and she prays for his long life, while the brother is supposed to protect the sister.

Sanjay Bachhav, a teacher from Vadodara started a campaign five years ago to send rakhis to the soldiers deployed in Kargil, Drass, Batalik and Siachen Glaciers of Ladakh region, who protect our borders around the clock. The soldiers brave the extreme weather conditions, stay away from families, apart from protecting the border. The campaign started with students writing letters or messages and sending rakhis for the jawans. The troopers from the border have also called the students to express their gratitude. In the following year, more school students joined in the campaign. Women from Australia, Dubai, Germany, USA and Canada also started sending rakhis for the Indian soldiers.

Sanjay Bachhav says that every year more and more people have been joining the campaign. There were photos of the soldiers wearing the rakhis too.

This year, due to the lockdown, students might not be able to reach the soldiers. Last year more than 2,000 rakhis were sent from outside Gujarat and 6,000 were sent by the school students. Even women from foreign countries will not be able to send. People have been making online payment to Sanjay Bachhav so that he can buy the rakhi on their behalf.

The enthusiasm is such that people have started sending in rakhis from 12 different countries and from India- 5 states and 25 cities.
Groups of women and rakhi merchants and wholesalers have also joined the campaign and will be sending rakhis to the soldiers posted in Kargil, Siachen and even Galwan Valley, where many soldiers were martyred. This year, as estimated about 10,000 rakhis will be collected. The rakhis take time to reach the soldiers, hence the soldiers will be celebrating Rakshabandhan the day the rakhis arrive.

In 2015, a total of 75 rakhis were sent to Kargil. In 2016, the number drastically increased to 2,200. In 2017, total 5,000 were sent to Kargil. In 2018, a total of 10,000 rakhis were sent to Siachen. Last year, 14,000 rakhis were sent to Kargil and Siachen.

You can be a part of the campaign too. You can collect rakhis from your friends and relatives. Before handing it over kindly note-
– Sanitize the rakhis before you hand it over
– Write your name with your mobile number (if you want to), as many women get calls from the border every year
-Handover the rakhis latest by Tuesday, July 14
-Sorting, packing and pooja of rakhis will be performed on Wednesday, July 15.
-Rakhis will be sent by post on Thursday, July 16.
Rakhi Collection Centre – Main Gate of Baroda High School Baghikhana
Timing: 7 a.m to 6 p.m till July 14