11 Months After Her Death, a Sister’s ‘Hand’ Tied Rakhi to Her Brother — A Raksha Bandhan That Moved Everyone to Tears

In Valsad, Gujarat, an extraordinary Raksha Bandhan moved everyone to tears. From Mumbai, a young girl named Anamta Ahmed arrived in Valsad to tie a rakhi to her brother Shivam. This was no ordinary rakhi — it was tied using the transplanted hand that once belonged to his late sister, Riya.

A Festival of Sibling Love, But with a Twist of Destiny On Saturday, while Raksha Bandhan was being celebrated across Gujarat, one family in Valsad marked it in a way that touched countless hearts. Riya’s hand tied a rakhi to her brother Shivam — but Riya herself had passed away in September 2024.

This emotional story is about little Riya from Valsad and how her organ donation gave life and hope to many, including the very hand that tied this rakhi. A Class 11 student from Goregaon, she faced deep emotional and physical hardships.

From Tragedy to a New Beginning Two years ago, Anamta lost one of her hands after suffering an electric shock. The Goregaon resident, a Class 11 student, struggled with immense emotional and physical challenges. But everything changed when she received Riya’s hand through a successful transplant at Mumbai’s Global Hospital, performed by Dr. Nilesh Satbhai and his team.

With this gift, Anamta not only regained her hand but also a new lease on life. Out of gratitude, she travelled to Valsad this Raksha Bandhan to meet Riya’s family and tie a rakhi to Riya’s brother, Shivam — using Riya’s very hand.

The Emotional Rakhi Ceremony When Anamta tied the rakhi on his wrist, Shivam felt as though his beloved sister Riya was right there with him. Riya’s parents, too, felt like they were holding their little daughter’s hand again. They embraced Anamta with love, treating her as their own child.

The moment was a rare blend of grief and gratitude — a reminder that humanity has no religion or boundaries. The bond between siblings, born of family or forged by destiny, is nothing short of sacred.

The Day Riya Became a Lifesaver Riya, the daughter of Trishna and Bobby Mistry, was a Class 4 student at Vallabh Ashram School in Pardi. On September 13, 2024, she suddenly fell ill with vomiting and severe headaches. After multiple hospital visits, she was admitted to Surat’s Kiran Hospital, where a CT scan revealed brain hemorrhage. On September 16, doctors declared her brain dead.

Her family, encouraged by Valsad’s renowned gynecologist Dr. Usha Maishery and Donate Life founder Nilesh Mandalewala, decided to donate her organs. Riya’s kidneys, liver, lungs, eyes, small intestine — and both her hands — gave new life to several people.

A 13-year-old boy in Navsari received one kidney.

Another kidney and liver were transplanted in Ahmedabad. Her lungs helped a 13-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu breathe and live again, and in Mumbai, her hands gave young Anamta the ability to start a new life.

A Raksha Bandhan to Remember Forever Anamta’s visit to Valsad this year was more than a gesture — it was a tribute. By tying a rakhi to Shivam with Riya’s transplanted hand, she honoured the bond of love that transcends life and death.

This Raksha Bandhan wasn’t just about a brother and sister — it was about two families connected by loss, hope, and the gift of life. And in that moment, Riya’s presence was felt by everyone in the room.