When political slogans replace poems recited by schoolgirls and staid environs of netas’ houses acquire a colourul look with the invasion of tastefully dressed women, you know its’s rakhi time. It was Rakhi revelry all the way at the residences of lawmakers and other leaders on Thursday as women in large numbers descended to tie rakhis around their wrists.
Governor ESL Nara-simhan, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Rajya Sabha member K Chiranjeevi, TRS MLA KT Rama Rao and scores of other prominent leaders in the state played host to sisters, right from little kids to grown-up women on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Jailed MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy too had his share of rakhi joy as his sister Sharmila went to the Chanchalguda prison and tied the rakhi to his wrist as a symbol of affection between them.
Raj Bhavan wore a festive look when women politicians and schoolgirls in colourful attire thronged it to tie rakhi to the first citizen of the state. Members of Brahma Kumaris, girl students from various schools, women teachers and GHMC former mayor Banda Karthika Reddy tied rakhi to Narasimhan. Governor’s wife Vimala Narasimhan tied a rakhi to senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya.
Speaking on this occasion, Narasimhan said, “People of the state should live as one family setting aside all the differences, whatever they may be. Instead of thinking individually people should henceforth think in a collective manner by referring to themselves as we and our, not as I and me.”
Chief minister’s camp office at Begumpet here also witnessed Raksha Bandhan festivities when minister Sunita Lakshma Reddy, Banda Karthika Reddy, women leaders from the Congress and school girls tied rakhis to chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Home minister P Sabita Indra Reddy tied rakhi to Kiran Reddy at Secretariat.
Raksha Bandhan was also celebrated with enthusiasm at the TDP headquarters, NTR Bhavan.
Members of the TDP women’s wing and schoolgirls tied rakhi to party chief N Chandrababu Naidu on this occasion. A 666-foot rakhi stole the show at NTR Bhavan. Karthika Reddy and some other Congress women leaders tied rakhi to Chiranjeevi at the latter’s residence here.
“The festival symbolises trust between sisters and brothers... sister praying for the well-being of her brother who in turn vows to help and protect her,” said Chiranjeevi on the occasion.
TRS MLA KT Rama Rao and his sister Kavita also celebrated Raksha Bandhan with Kavita tying a rakhi to her brother’s wrist.
Thursday was a different day for YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Chanchalguda prison. His sister Sharmila, accompanied by his mother Vijayamma and wife Bharati, paid a visit to the jail and tied a rakhi.