The festival testifying the strong bond between a brother and a sister is being celebrated across the country with much fanfare on Aug 24.

It is a day when brothers' and sisters' pray for the well being and happiness of each other, and on this day brother's make a promise to their sisters to protect them from all harms and troubles while the sisters pray to God to protect their brother from all evils.

Traditionally, Rakhi's were made of interwoven red and gold threads but today Rakhis are often decorated with multi coloured silk thread and adorned with stones and beads.

President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday greeted the people on the Rakshabandhan and gave a call for renewed efforts to ensure the dignity of women to promote peace and harmony in society.

"This festival is uniquely symbolic of the bonds of love, affection and mutual trust which have existed for centuries between sisters and brothers of every community in our country," the President said in her message.

She hoped that their united endeavours would bring prosperity and progress to all sections of people. The Vice President said that the festival would reinforce the spirit of family bonding, societal harmony and peaceful coexistence.

"May this festival bring about amity and goodwill in our lives," Ansari said. Observing that Rakhi symbolises affection and reinforces family bonds, the Prime Minister said "on this auspicious occasion let us make renewed efforts to ensure the dignity and well being of women and to promote peace and harmony in society."