Raksha Bandhan, Eid Milad-un-Nabi and Janmashtami as

occasions to celebrate harmony, service and shared cultural values

Prayagraj, 27 Aug (HS): India’s cultural landscape has

always been enriched by its festivals. Beyond rituals and religious traditions,

festivals have the unique ability to bring people together, strengthen social

bonds and remind communities of shared human values. This spirit was at the

heart of the message delivered by honorable Indresh Kumar, senior RSS pracharak

and guide of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, during the organisation’s monthly

online meeting.

The meeting brought together hundreds of office-bearers and

workers from national, regional, state and district levels through digital

platforms. The central theme of the discussion was the need to transform

festivals into occasions for social awareness, environmental responsibility,

respect for women, cultural harmony and national unity.

Dr. Indresh Kumar emphasised that India is fundamentally a

culture of celebration. In such a diverse society, festivals can become

powerful bridges between communities. They should therefore not remain confined

to rituals, but should also communicate values that strengthen society and

deepen mutual understanding.

Raksha Bandhan: From a Family Bond to a Social Commitment -

Raksha Bandhan, traditionally associated with the bond between brothers and

sisters, can also be understood as a broader social commitment to respect,

dignity and mutual protection. Dr. Indresh Kumar suggested that the festival

should be given a wider social meaning by encouraging men and women to

symbolically tie rakhi to one another, conveying a message of equality and

mutual respect.

He also connected Raksha Bandhan with environmental

responsibility. He called upon workers to tie a rakhi to a tree and take a

lifelong pledge to protect it. In this way, the festival can become a reminder

that protecting nature is also a collective responsibility. Referring to

Shamparsi village in Uttar Pradesh, he highlighted the recent celebration of

Raksha Bandhan by Hindu and Muslim Gujjar communities together. Such examples,

he said, demonstrate how local traditions can become powerful expressions of

friendship, trust and social harmony.

Eid Milad-un-Nabi: Turning Celebration into Service - The

message of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad, was

presented through the values of love, service and humanity. Dr. Iindresh Kumar encouraged participants to use the

occasion to reach out to society through acts of public service. During

Juloos-e-Mohammadi, he suggested arrangements for drinking water, sharbat and

refreshments for people along the route.

The idea is simple but meaningful: service should become one

of the most visible expressions of celebration. He also stressed that

programmes should be organised peacefully and responsibly, with discipline and

respect for people of all communities. Such celebrations, he said, should

convey a message of peace, goodwill and mutual respect.

Janmashtami: Celebrating the Spirit of Cultural Harmony -

The discussion then turned towards Shri Krishna Janmashtami, which was

described as an important expression of India’s cultural heritage and its

enduring message of love and harmony. Dr. Indresh highlighted the values of

love, service, peace and humanity associated with the life and teachings of

Lord Krishna. He called upon participants to take this message beyond religious

boundaries and share it with every section of society. India’s strength, he

emphasised, lies in its diversity. Its different faiths, traditions and

communities can coexist as pearls in a single garland, each retaining its

identity while contributing to the beauty of the whole.

From Festivals to Everyday Social Responsibility: The

meeting also underlined that social harmony cannot be achieved through

festivals alone. It requires continuous grassroots engagement, discipline and

accountability. Senior office-bearer Prof. Shahid Akhtar observed that the real

strength of an organisation is reflected in its work at the grassroots. He

encouraged every worker to remain active and connected with people in their

respective areas.

National Coordinator Mohammad Afzal stressed the importance

of organisational discipline and accountability. He urged workers to understand

their responsibilities and submit regular reports of their activities so that

progress could be assessed and future initiatives strengthened. Girish Juyal ji

focused on the growing influence of social media. He called for greater use of

digital platforms to promote positive, constructive and unity-oriented messages

and to share information about social initiatives in a timely manner.

Different Festivals, One Shared Message: The broader message

emerging from the meeting was that festivals may have different histories,

traditions and forms of celebration, but their social potential can lead

towards a common goal.

Love, brotherhood, service, respect, peace and national

unity can become the shared values connecting different celebrations. The

meeting concluded with a reaffirmation that the true strength of any social

organisation lies in grassroots work, discipline and accountability. The participants

also reiterated the idea that while festivals may be different, the message of

bringing hearts together remains one—love, brotherhood and peace. The programme

concluded with the National Anthem, symbolically bringing together the themes

of cultural diversity, social harmony and national unity.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi