The inmates of the various homes under the care of Coimbatore-based NGO, Helping Hearts, observed Raksha Bandhan yesterday. The founder of the NGO informed Covai Post that 20 children and 19 seniors participated in the festival.

“The girls and the grandmas tied rakhis on the wrists of the boys and the grandpas. As a token of appreciation, the boys and the grandpas gave gifts to their ‘rakhi sisters,’” Ganesh, one of the founders of Helping Hearts, said. This was followed by the inmates eating traditional sweets. This is the first time that Helping Hearts is celebrating Raksha Bandhan. The festival was celebrated at the Helping Hearts children’s home, and at the home for the aged.