Daughters of Banihal embrace soldiers as brothers, tying *Rakhi* on the wrists of the guardians of the border.

Daughters of Banihal embrace soldiers as brothers, tying *Rakhi* on the wrists of the guardians of the border.

The festival of Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond of love and trust between siblings. However, in Banihal, Jammu & Kashmir, this year’s celebration was dedicated to the soldiers deployed to defend the nation. Students from the Banihal Girls’ Higher Secondary School tied *Rakhi* on Indian Army soldiers, applied *tilak* to their foreheads, and embraced them as brothers. A heartwarming sense of affection and a sibling-like bond was evident between the students and the soldiers during the event.