Agartala, Aug 18 (TIWN): To mark the auspicious occasion of Rakhsha Bandhan the children on Thursday tied Rakhi to C M Manik Sarkar at CM residence.

Raksha Bandhan is an annual festival celebrated by not only Hindus but people from various religions. Its date varies because it is observed according to the lunar calendar, but what remains unchanged is the fervour with which it is celebrated by brothers and sisters in India and the rest of the world.

As the name suggests, "Raksha" is protection, and "Bandhan," beyond the literal meaning of tie or tying, also means a bond or a knot. And that is just one aspect of it all. Although modern-day norms dictate that the holy or ritualistic thread at the centre of this festival is tied by sisters on brothers' hands, that has not always been the case.

It is believed the ritual initially began as a means of someone wishing that their near and dear one or someone whom they want to see doing well will stay safe, and tying this thread as a symbol of that prayer. And the festival is turning back to this observance, with examples like school students tying Rakhi on politicians' hands, or sending Rakhi to soldiers serving the country on unfriendly terrains.