Gujarat women to send half-a-million 'rakhis' to Modi

A team of Mahil Morcha members will take 'rakhis' to Delhi on August 9 and present it to Modi the next day

Continuing the tradition which they have followed for over a decade, the state BJP’s Mahila Morcha members from across Gujarat have collected over half a million ‘rahkis’ which will be sent to Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi for ‘Rakshabandhan’ celebration.

When Modi was chief minister in Gujarat, every year on ‘Rakshabandhan’ hundreds of women from across the state and especially members of the BJP Mahila Morcha, used to tie ‘rakhi’ on his wrist which is a symbolic gesture wherein the brother pledges to protect his sister against all odds.

This year since Modi is in New Delhi, the members of the BJP Mahil Morcha decided to collect ‘rakhis’ from all the districts which will be then sent to Modi on ‘Rakshabandha’ that is August 10. A team of Mahil Morcha members will take this ‘rakhis’ to Delhi on August 9 and present it to Modi the next day.

“Since past decade we have been tying ‘rahki’ to Modiji every year on ‘Rakshabandha’. But this year since he is in Delhi we have decided to send him ‘rakhis’,” said BJP Mahil Morcha president Jyoti Pandya. “Our members in all district have collected around 4-5 lakh (0.4-0.5 million) ‘rakhis’ which will be brought to the state party headquarters in Gandhinagar. From there the ‘rakhis’ will be packaged and sent to Modiji,” she added.

Pandya said that women from districts have sent decorated ‘rakhis’ for Modi with personalised messages.

Meanwhile, Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel is also taking advantage of the the festival that celebrates bond between a brother and sister. Patel has sent out ‘rakhis’ to all MLAs, MPs senior government officials and prominent people across the state and outside. All ‘rakhis’ are accompanied with a message from Patel and her photograph.  The state government is also holding ‘Rakhi Mela’s at district levels to encourage people to purchase ‘rakhis’ prepared by local women self help groups.