Hyderabad, Aug 29 (IANS): Raksha Bandhan, which signifies the bond between brother and sister, was celebrated with fervour and gaiety in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.

Schoolgirls and Brahma Kumaris tied rakhis on E.S.L. Narasimhan, the joint governor of the two states, at a function held at the Raj Bhavan here.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu celebrated the festival with cabinet colleagues in Vijayawada. Ministers Paritala Sunita, P. Sujata and K. Mrunalini tied 'rakhi' to the chief minister.

Speaking on the occasion, the Telugu Desam Party chief assured women of both the Telugu states that he would work for their protection.

At the office of BJP's Greater Hyderabad unit, the party's women leaders tied rakhis on central minister Bandaru Dattatreya.

Leaders of women's wing of Telangana Rashtra Samithi tied the thread to Irrigation Minister Harish Rao.

Foreign students joined the celebrations at a function organised by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in Osmania University.

In Andhra Pradesh, women leaders of the main opposition YSR Congress Party tied 'rakhi' to policemen during the day-long shutdown called by the party to protest delay in according special status to the state.