Vrikshabandhan Surakshabandhan: A Bond of Care

To celebrate the festive occasion of Raksha Bandhan, observed on 28 August 2026, the Nursery, LKG, and UKG students of Seth M. R. Jaipuria School came together on 27 August 2026 in a spirit of brotherhood. But it wasn’t a celebration like any other: it was about reimagining tradition to make it relevant to the present. Moving beyond the traditional bond between siblings, the students celebrated Raksha Bandhan by fostering bonds of love with Mother Earth, choosing to honour the environment and pledging to protect the planet.

The celebration began with a moment of silence, followed by a warm discussion about the meaning of Raksha and Bandhan. Children shared their experiences and reflected on the importance of trees and nature in their lives. Through Jaipuria’s tradition of Vrikshabandhan, they tied handmade rakhis around trees to symbolise the spirit of brotherhood and oneness they share with Mother Earth and pledged to protect and care for the environment.  A special highlight of the celebration was ‘Our Raksha Tree – Our Promises of Care’, where children made heartfelt promises to protect trees, water, birds, animals, Mother Earth, their country, and their friends. Adding a creative touch to the celebration, the children also took part in a braiding activity and lovingly made beautiful rakhis, making the celebration both enjoyable and engaging. The rakhis featured meaningful messages on sustainability. One rakhi that was tied to a tree had a colourful and intricate design, while another was crafted in the shape of a yellow flower bearing the names of the children.

The spirit of celebration was further reflected in the creative messages displayed on the notice board. One moving message read: ‘This Raksha Bandhan, let us weave a bond of care with our Country and our Mother Earth’. This message was colourfully illustrated with the sketch of two children protectively holding the Earth in their hands. The Earth featured the chakra from the Indian flag, representing India, while two white doves flew overhead. The board also carried pledges to ‘Save water’, ‘Plant and care for trees’, ‘Be kind to animals and birds’, ‘Reuse and recycle’, ‘Keep my country clean’, ‘Respect everyone’, and ‘Be kind and helpful’.

No tradition is too conventional or insignificant at Seth M. R. Jaipuria School to remain untouched by Sri Aurobindo’s defining principle of ‘Conscious Transformation’. Raksha Bandhan proved to be no exception. By incorporating the theme of sustainability into the celebration, the students transformed a traditional occasion of festivity into an opportunity to foster a deeper bond with nature and reaffirm their commitment to protecting and nurturing the planet. This Raksha Bandhan, the students did not just tie a thread around a wrist; they wove a bond of care with the country and Mother Earth.