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Vrindavan widows send ‘rakhis’, national flags to PM Modi
Notably, till the past few years, some widows used to visit the PM’s house to tie ‘rakhi’ on his wrist on the day of Rakshabandhan. But for the past two years, the practice was discontinued on account of Covid-19. This time the Prime Minister’s office has been contacted and on getting permission, some widows may go to the Prime Minister’s house to tie ‘rakhi’, according to those taking care of the widow ashrams.
Agra With both Rakshabandhan and Independence Day round the corner, the widows living in Vrindavan are sending 501 ‘rakhis’ along with 75 Tricolours to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
These ‘rakhis’ carrying coloured photos of Prime Minister Modi have been prepared by the widows living in Maa Sharda and Radhatila ashrams in the temple town.
Notably, till the past few years, some widows used to visit the PM’s house to tie ‘rakhi’ on his wrist on the day of Rakshabandhan. But for the past two years, the practice was discontinued on account of Covid-19.. This time the Prime Minister’s office has been contacted and on getting permission, some widows may go to the Prime Minister’s house to tie ‘rakhi’, according to those taking care of these widow ashrams.
Every year, a programme of making ‘rakhi’ is organized for the widows by Sulabh International led by Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of the NGO and a well-known social reformer.
The press statement issued by Sulabh International revealed that on Tuesday, the event was organised in Maa Sharda Ashram. Widows put the ‘rakhis’ they had made in two baskets and they were sent to Delhi for the Prime Minister. The representatives of Sulabh International are expected to deliver these at the PMO on Wednesday.
To break the social stigma attached to widowhood, Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh movement, started organizing all important Hindu rituals for widows living in Vrindavan and the festival of ‘Rakshabandhan’ is one of them.
Vinita Verma, vice president of Sulabh International said that earlier, on behalf of thousands of widows, four or five widows used to go to Delhi to tie ‘rakhi’ and give sweets to Modi. “This year also we are in touch with the Prime Minister’s Office,” she added.
She said that some ‘rakhis’ were made using the image of the Prime Minister.
“Sulabh has created a sense of well-being among the widows. It has made various arrangements for their health care, food and other needs on humanitarian grounds,” said Verma through the press statement.
