Sunderland Hindu Community hosts festival to thank city's emergency services workers
“We wanted to show our respects for the emergency services who stand by us whatever our troubles”
Sunderland’s Hindu Community have hosted a special event to celebrate the city’s emergency services and to thank them for their protection and service.
A key part of the Hindu calendar, the Raksha Bandhan festival celebrates bond, protection, and unity. Hosted at the Tansy Centre in South Hylton across the Bank Holiday weekend, the city’s Hindu Community wanted to use the festival to thank the emergency services for their service to Sunderland.
Sunderland Hindu Community general secretary Harshil Shah, 28, said: “The festival is about paying our respects to those who protect and care for us and we wanted to thank the emergency services for protecting us from potential dangers.
“We wanted to show our respects for the emergency services who stand by us whatever our troubles - something which they do in communities across the UK. There have been similar festivals taking place across the UK.”
Five firefighters from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, three doctors, and two police officers attended the event.
Harshil added: “As part of our celebrations, sacred threads known as rakhis were tied by community members and priests to the hands of local emergency services personnel from Tyne & Wear Fire Service , Northumbria Police and the NHS staff to honour their service and to express our gratitude for their service and their dedication to the community.
“The emergency service workers also lit Diya lamps which represents the triumph of light over darkness. All the workers who took part really appreciated being part of the ceremony.”
Emergency services workers were also presented with a bouquet of flowers as a sign of appreciation and gratitude.
People from all ethnic backgrounds were invited to the event with Harshil keen to stress the importance of social inclusion.
He said: “We run lots of different events such as yoga sessions and everyone is welcome to any of our events.”
The Raksha Bandhan festival takes place in India and across Hindu communities every year, usually and the end of August or start of September.