Chandigarh, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Raksha Bandhan celebrations at government de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across Punjab brought recovering patients together with their families, NGOs and peer ambassadors, reinforcing the role of love, support and encouragement in the fight against drug addiction.
The celebrations, held as part of the Bhagwant Mann government’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign, focused on strengthening family bonds and motivating patients to remain committed to recovery and return to fulfilling lives with their loved ones.
Punjab’s ‘Soormas’—peer ambassadors who have overcome addiction and now support others on the path to recovery—also participated in the programmes.
At the District De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre in Gurdaspur, Soorma Pankaj Mahajan shared his own recovery journey with patients and their families. Mahajan, who said he has remained sober for 10 years, urged those undergoing treatment to believe that recovery was possible.
“We, as part of the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, are here to motivate you all. The government is playing a huge role in helping you and we are also here to provide support and encouragement. I myself, having gone through drug addiction, can vouch for the fact that we can come out of it,” he said.
He encouraged patients to use the occasion to strengthen their resolve to recover and honour the support of their families.
Letter-writing and expressive-art activities were organised at several centres, allowing patients to communicate their emotions and reflect on their recovery.
At the Kapurthala De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre, a patient identified as Rajwinder Singh, with his name changed, wrote about recognising his mistakes and giving up drugs after entering treatment.
Another recovering patient expressed remorse and sought forgiveness from his sister, writing, “I am sorry for whatever I did, my dear sister. Please forgive me. I have realised my mistakes. I love you all and miss you and will never ever tread on this path to hell.”
Similar programmes were held across the state. In Kapurthala and SAS Nagar, Raksha Bandhan was celebrated at district rehabilitation centres in collaboration with Brahma Kumaris.
In Patiala, Sarv Prem Foundation and Soormas organised celebrations at the District De-Addiction Centre, while young girls from the community sent handmade rakhis and messages of encouragement to patients through the foundation.
Government de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Bathinda, Pathankot, Nawanshahr, Mansa, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Amritsar and other districts also held Raksha Bandhan programmes with participation from families of recovering drug users.
Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh emphasised the importance of family involvement in rehabilitation. He said family counselling was being conducted at centres across Punjab, with families undergoing mandatory psychoeducation sessions to prepare them to support patients after they return home under the Community Bridge Model (CBM), which is currently being piloted by the state.
“Festivals such as Raksha Bandhan remind us that recovery is not an individual journey. The love, encouragement and faith of families can give a person the strength to overcome one of the most difficult phases of life,” Singh said.
He added that de-addiction centres should remain places of “hope, dignity and rehabilitation”, where patients receive medical, emotional and social support.
The initiative sought to use Raksha Bandhan to reinforce the broader message that sustained family support, restoration of relationships and continued recovery are central to building a drug-free Punjab.
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