LUCKNOW, Aug. 12 -- For sisters racing against time to get Rakhis across to their brothers before the festival, India Post is taking the weekend out of the equation. Select post offices across the Lucknow headquarters region will remain open round-the-clock until Raksha Bandhan, with special delivery arrangements on two Sundays to ensure the festive mail reaches its destination on time. The department has also introduced designer waterproof envelopes specifically for sending Rakhis, priced at Rs.10, which will be available at post offices across the region. Postmaster general, Lucknow Headquarters Region, Sunil Kumar Rai said all head post offices under the region will operate 24x7 for Rakhi mail bookings until Raksha Bandhan. "Booking will also be available at railway station-based Rail Mail Service counters," he added. The special arrangements cover post offices in Lucknow, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, Barabanki, Rae Bareli and Sitapur, allowing people to send Rakhis to destinations across India and abroad. But the bigger push is on the delivery side. Postal authorities have directed all divisions to open post offices on Sunday, August 16 and August 23, the two Sundays preceding Raksha Bandhan, specifically for Rakhi delivery. Postal workers will also make deliveries in their designated beats on these holidays, officials said. "Booking is only one part of the service. Our priority is to ensure that the Rakhi is delivered on time," Rai said. People facing problems with Rakhi booking or delivery can contact the regional office helpline at 9451481919 through calls or WhatsApp, officials said. With the festive mail rush expected to build up in the coming days, the department said the arrangements are aimed at keeping the traditional postal route relevant for a festival increasingly marked by online greetings and digital messages. htc...