Hempur: Forty schoolchildren and five teachers from Ek Onkar Global Academy, Kashipur, joined Indian Army personnel at RTS & D, Hempur, for a special Raksha Bandhan celebration highlighting the close bond between the Armed Forces and the country’s younger generation.
The celebration brought students from the classroom into a military establishment, where they interacted with Army personnel and participated in the traditional Raksha Bandhan ceremony.
In one of the most memorable moments of the event, the children tied Rakhis on the wrists of soldiers, symbolising affection, respect and the enduring connection between those serving in uniform and the citizens they protect.
For the young participants, the occasion offered an opportunity to meet Army personnel personally and experience military life beyond what they normally encounter through books, classrooms or public events.
The Commandant of RTS & D, Hempur, also joined the Raksha Bandhan celebrations and interacted with the children and teachers.
Following the Rakhi ceremony, gifts were presented to the children and participants came together for a warm high-tea gathering, providing further opportunities for interaction between the students, teachers and Army personnel.
The participation of 40 children and five teachers transformed the occasion into a meaningful civil-military outreach activity alongside the traditional festival celebration.
Raksha Bandhan traditionally represents a bond of affection, responsibility and protection. When celebrated with Armed Forces personnel, the festival also carries a wider symbolism, acknowledging soldiers who remain committed to safeguarding the country while frequently serving away from their own families.
For soldiers posted at military establishments, such interactions can also bring a sense of family and community into the cantonment environment.
The event at Hempur demonstrated how festivals can serve as a bridge between military personnel and civilian communities, particularly children who may have limited opportunities to directly interact with members of the Armed Forces.
Such engagements can help young students better understand the lives, responsibilities and sacrifices of soldiers while developing greater awareness about the Armed Forces and national service.
The presence of teachers from Ek Onkar Global Academy further gave the visit an educational dimension. Experiences outside the classroom can leave a lasting impression on students, particularly when they are able to personally interact with people serving in institutions they have previously only read about.
The celebration also reflected the Indian Army’s wider tradition of maintaining close engagement with civilian communities surrounding military establishments.
From tying Rakhis to exchanging gifts and sharing high tea, the event remained centred on personal interaction rather than ceremony alone.
The sight of young children tying Rakhis on soldiers’ wrists captured the central message of the celebration — a bond of trust and affection connecting the Armed Forces with the citizens and future generations of the country.
For the 40 children from Ek Onkar Global Academy, the visit to RTS & D, Hempur, became more than a Raksha Bandhan celebration. It provided an opportunity to meet soldiers, understand the human side of military service and carry home memories of an interaction built around respect, gratitude and national pride.
From classrooms to cantonments, the celebration highlighted how simple interactions can strengthen the relationship between India’s Armed Forces and the society they serve.
