Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath greeted the state on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and said that the festival is much more than a ritual thread tied around the wrist of a brother. In his message, he said it was a reminder of the collective duty toward protecting the honour, safety and self-respect of sisters and daughters.
A Celebration of Sanatan Tradition
The Chief Minister associated the festival with the values of Sanatan Sanskaars, recalling the folk story of Draupadi tearing her saree to wrap Lord Krishna’s bleeding finger, a gesture that he said Krishna reciprocated by protecting her in times of crisis.
Government’s Commitment to Women’s Safety
The chief minister said that the state has taken several initiatives in the past nine and a half years for women empowerment. He cited schemes like Mission Shakti, Chief Minister’s Kanya Sumangala Yojana, Mass Marriage Scheme and Destitute Women’s Pension Scheme as measures for safety, education and economic independence. It also confirmed that free travel for women on buses, first introduced in 2017, will continue from 27 to 29 August this year.
A Call to Battle
The Chief Minister appealed to citizens, besides greetings, to translate the spirit of the festival into action by taking a pledge to respect and protect every sister and daughter and tying rakhis on police, army and disaster relief personnel as a mark of gratitude. He also asked people to buy locally made rakhis and gifts to help artisans and small enterprises.
This year’s Raksha Bandhan is falling on Shravan Purnima, and the Chief Minister links the emotional content of the festival with the broader agenda of the state on women’s welfare. It is being portrayed as a cultural celebration and a civic reminder.
