Imphal: Across Manipur on 28 August 2026, Assam Rifles commemorated the festival of Raksha Bandhan through a series of community-centric programmes, reinforcing mutual trust, emotional connections and citizen-soldier harmony. Celebrations spanned multiple locations in Chandel, Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Tengnoupal districts, bringing together troops, school students, NCC cadets, internally displaced persons and civil organisation members.
At Sajik Tampak in Chandel district, Assam Rifles personnel joined students of Jamkholen Memorial School, where young children tied rakhis on the wrists of troops and fellow classmates before receiving chocolates. In Ukhrul district, celebrations took place at Somsai Garrison, where children of Assam Rifles Public School tied rakhis to serving personnel, alongside a special gesture of solidarity from Madhya Pradesh, where students of Shri Chitransh Public School sent 50 handcrafted rakhis to soldiers. Additionally, at Assam Rifles Public School in Shangshak, Ukhrul district, 45 children, 10 school staff members and 20 local families celebrated with Assam Rifles personnel, with children tying rakhis to troops and fellow students to foster unity and care.
In Churachandpur district, festivities took place across three locations. At Veng, 50 Assam Rifles personnel celebrated with 20 girl cadets of 65 NCC Girls Battalion and 15 civilian ladies, marked by the tying of rakhis and exchange of gifts. At Khuga, 78 personnel interacted with 21 local young women who tied rakhis and shared festive sweets. At the Kinepna Women Empowerment Centre in Tuibong, 22 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) women, trained in crochet work, handcrafted custom rakhis and tied them to 40 Assam Rifles personnel, turning vocational skills into symbolic threads of faith, protection and mutual respect.
Simultaneously, in Tengnoupal district, celebrations at Machi brought together 70 personnel and 35 local villagers. At Moreh, 65 personnel celebrated with 20 civilians, including representatives from the Matribhumi Rakshak Sathi Foundation, Maharashtra. These statewide expressions of affection highlighted the enduring bond of protection, unity and shared trust between the Armed Forces and the civil populace.
