Odisha college girl students tie rakhis to BSF jawans to mark Raksha Bandhan 2025

On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the Sanjay Smruti Government College in Phulbani witnessed a moving celebration that bridged the gap between youthful gratitude and frontline service as female students of the college tied rakhis to Border Security Force (BSF) jawans from the 116th Battalion, deployed in Kandhamal district for anti-Naxal operations.

Sources reported that the courtyard of the college turned into a space of warmth and camaraderie as students, dressed in festive attire, tied the sacred threads on the wrists of the jawans and offered prayers for their well-being.

The soldiers, far from their families, stood smiling as each rakhi symbolised a sister’s bond and a community’s appreciation.

BSF returns the gesture with gifts

Following the traditional practice where brothers present gifts to their sisters after receiving a rakhi, the BSF jawans handed envelopes containing presents to the students. Smiles and light-hearted exchanges filled the air, momentarily replacing the seriousness of their daily duties with the joy of familial connection.

In an interaction with OTV, one of the participating students expressed her happiness: “They protect our country while staying away from their families. By tying rakhis, we wanted to honour them and make them feel at home.”

"The college and my students are elated that such an auspicious festival was marked with such a warm gesture at our college by celebrating it with the jawans, who are the first line of defence of our country,” said Tanuja Singh, teacher of the college.

It is worth mentioning that the 116th Battalion of the BSF has been instrumental in maintaining peace in Kandhamal, a region that has seen occasional insurgent activity. As such, for the jawans, moments like these offer emotional support and a reminder of the civilian lives they safeguard.