FORT BEND, TEXAS, August 30, 2023 (Houston Chronicle): Eduardo Hernandez, captain at the Northeast Fort Bend Fire Station 2 in Richmond, stood patiently while a young lady finished tying a silk thread around his outstretched wrist. Around him, other firefighters sporting matching bracelets enjoyed Indian sweets as they guided children around the fire station. The visitors were members of the local chapter of faith-based nonprofit Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, and the silk bracelet is a rakhi, which carries with it centuries of symbolism and tradition, signifying first and foremost the bond between a protector and the one they’ve vowed to protect. Throughout August, leading up to the Indian festival of Raksha Bandhan — which falls this year on Wednesday, Aug. 30 — representatives from different HSS chapters visited numerous fire stations around the county.

Also known as festival of protection, the rakhi tradition is practiced within families, with sisters tying them around the wrists of brothers and cousins. This is rooted in the upbringing of many Hindu children, who are encouraged to consider their cousins as honorary siblings. Embracing a creative interpretation of the tradition and broadening its scope, the HSS chose to express gratitude to firefighters and law enforcement officers for their role as dedicated protectors. “We want to foster a sense of universal oneness,” said Apoorva Shrivastav, a coordinator and volunteer at HSS. “The whole world is a big family. Firefighters and police officers are very important for a civil society. This is a way of showing appreciation for everything they do and thanking them.” “Reaffirming our social responsibility, safety, and harmony in society, HSS is celebrating Raksha Bandhan at a societal level with law enforcement agencies, fire stations and elected offices,” said Arun Sharma, executive director at HSS, Houston.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/fort-bend/article/fort-bend-first-responders-raksha-bandhan-18335823.php#photo-24184260

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