ACROSS THE BORDERS – Two Flags and one Message
Rakhi with India-Pak flags in Lahore sends message of peace and brotherhood
Ferozepur, August 28, 2026: A special Raksha Bandhan ceremony was organised at the residence of Pandit Bhagat Lal Khokhar in Lahore, carrying a heartfelt message of peace, love, harmony and people-to-people friendship between Pakistan and India.
Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, Chairman of the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan, was the chief guest at the ceremony, which was attended by a large number of people from different communities and schools of thought.
Addressing the gathering, Qureshi said Raksha Bandhan is a beautiful symbol of the eternal bond of love, affection and respect between brothers and sisters. He said Pakistan and India share a common cultural heritage, traditions and values, and festivals such as Raksha Bandhan provide an opportunity to celebrate these shared bonds.
He emphasised that the people of the two countries have deep-rooted cultural and emotional connections. Celebrating festivals and traditions together, he said, can help bring people closer and break down the walls of hatred, hostility and mistrust.
Qureshi stressed that people-to-people contact is one of the strongest bridges for promoting lasting peace, friendship and mutual understanding between Pakistan and India. He called upon people on both sides to promote love, humanity, peace, tolerance and mutual respect instead of hatred, conflict and division.
A particularly touching moment came when a Hindu girl, Shobna, tied a Rakhi made with the flags of Pakistan and India around the wrist of Qureshi. Appreciating the gesture of affection and goodwill, Qureshi presented Shobna with gifts and thanked her for expressing the spirit of brotherly love.
Participants described the ceremony as a meaningful symbol of peace, religious harmony, brotherhood and people-to-people friendship between the two countries. They said such cultural and traditional celebrations can play an important role in strengthening mutual understanding and bringing the people of Pakistan and India closer.
The ceremony concluded with prayers for peace, friendship, harmony and stronger people-to-people relations between Pakistan and India.