PESHAWAR: Rakhi is made of colourful and delicate threads but it has turned out to be a symbol of strong human relationship going beyond all blood, racial or religious differences. Albert John, a Christian with Hindu rakhi sisters, is its living example.

“Though I am a member of Catholic church, I have four rakhi sisters from Hindu community. They are dearer to me than my own sisters,” said Albert, a resident of Kali Barhi area in the provincial capital, where a pre-partition era Hindu temple was crowded with women and men celebrating the Raksha Bandhan religious festival on Sunday.

Albert John lives in a street inhabited by Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians for decades.

They celebrate their all religious festivals and share their happiness without caring for who is who.

“We don’t get into arguments when it comes to religion. We respect each other’s belief. That is one thing common in this locality,” he told Dawn.

Residents of a Peshawar locality celebrate Raksha Bandhan together

Raksha Bandhan is a festival in which Hindu women tie colourful threads on the wrist of their brothers. However, anyone who wishes to have this relationship is not bound by blood relationship. In fact, it’s a relationship where neither blood nor religion becomes a hurdle.

“It is a relationship where a man assures his sister that he will protect her, while the sister prays for the safety of her brother,” said teenager Sapna after Raksha Bandhan ritual. She said anyone worthy of being a brother was welcome. “There is no need that it should be a blood relation or a person of the same religion. It could be anyone deserving to be a brother,” she said.

Teenager Roan Harpoon, who has four sisters by blood relation, said two girls came up to him and asked if he would be their brother.

“I replied why not. Thereafter, they tied me a rakhi on Raksha Bandhan,” he said. He said it was a huge responsibility but he was committed to fulfilling it happily.

Different religious communities living in Peshawar for decades have adopted local traditions and culture. Women entering a local temple on the day had colourful clothes and veil, while the boys put on shalwar kameez and cap looking like Muslim boys going to seminaries.

Sapna, who wore bangles and henna on hands, said Hindus got new clothes and bought jewellery and bangles like Muslims did on Eid. Though Peshawar is often in limelight for bad news, this historic city has some unique features, which often go unnoticed.

The city has Jamia Imdaadul Uloom Islamia, a mosque-cum-seminary commonly known as Darwesh Jamaat, and a cathedral side by side turning out to be symbols of religious harmony.

Also, the Kala Barhi street in Saddar area is a living example of how people of different religious beliefs live together. They not only live together but also have bonds stronger than blood relations.

This was evident on Raksha Bandhan for which anyone interested was welcome to the temple.“Our parents and grandparents had lived here with harmony and we have been keeping up this good tradition,” said resident Albert John.

Published in Dawn, Aug 12th, 2014