Lions and Brahma Kumaris come together to celebrate Raksha Bandhan |23 August 2018

Brahma Kumari members joined with several members of the Lions Club of Seychelles, who are also Hindu devotees, in a celebration of the Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan.

This is second time the two organisations have come together to commemorate this festival.

The event took place at the PRG Palm Residency at Ma Joie.

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is an auspicious occasion on the Hindu calendar when sisters tie a sacred thread called ‘Rakhi’ on the wrist of their brothers and pray for their long life.

It is widely celebrated as a festival across India and around the world and this year it will be celebrated on August 26.

The President of the Lions Club of Seychelles, D.V. Sharma, explained that

traditionally, sisters apply a ‘tilak’ on the forehead of their brothers, tie a colourfully decorated ‘rakhi’ or thread on their brother’s wrist, and offer sweets as a token of their love.

In return, the brother vows to protect his sister under all circumstances and of course, gives his sister a gift.

Raksha Bandhan has a deeper spiritual explanation. The ‘tilak’ is a sign of being victorious over ‘body-consciousness’ and the web of vices that influence us to perform negative actions. It is also a symbol of awakening one’s awareness of ‘soul-consciousness’.

Mr Sharma feels that such activities are excellent example of improving the bondage in family and appealed to all brothers to take care of their sisters in Seychelles and across the globe.

Dr Valentina Seth, a representative of Brahma Kumaris, hailed the friendship between the Brahma Kumaris and the Lions Club.

On behalf of the Lions Club of Seychelles, its treasurer A.K. Singh thanked all  Brahma Kumaris and presented a gift to the Brahma Kumaris.