RAWALPINDI: The Krishna temple in the backyard of Saddar Bazaar adorned with colourful lights on the occasion of Holi as members of the Hindu community from Rawalpindi and Islamabad thronged the worship place to celebrate the festival on Monday.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and police made special security arrangements in and around the temple. The members of the Hindu community offered prayers led by Priest Jai Ram.

When an earthen pot called ‘Matki’ hanging in the middle of the courtyard was broken, different colours from it splashed everywhere with the participants chanting “HoliHa”. Boys made a human pyramid and another climbs and broke the pot to formally start the celebrations.

The participants splashed colours at each other. Most of the youngsters were dancing under dazzling lights and drumbeats and listening to traditional music. Bonfire was also lit in the courtyard.

ETPB, police made special security arrangements for Holi; special gathering also held at Valmec temple in Attock

Hindu Sikh Social Welfare Council President Heera Lal told Dawn that the festival was celebrated by Hindus across the world. It is one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu calendar.

He said Holi symbolised the victory of good over evil and colours are thrown at each other as a sign of celebration and victory of God.

Priest Jai Ram explained that Holi was one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu calendar.

He said there was a Raja namely Hiranyakashipu in Multan who presented himself as god before the people and Prahad was his son. Prahad refused to admit his father as a god.

He said Prahad was a staunch devotee of Vishnu. The Raja asked his sister Holika, who was believed to have been gifted with the power that she would not burn.

After refusal from Prahad, a huge fire was lit. When Holika wore her clock to carry him into the fire Holika got burnt and Prahad remained unscathed.

He said in remembrance of this great escape, the Hindus celebrated Holi. He said the tradition of playing with colours on Holi draws its roots from a legend of Radha and the Hindu god Krishna.

Holi celebrated in Attock

Like other parts of the country, the Hindu community celebrated Holi at Valmec Mandir of Attock city. The festival is celebrated every year in the lone temple of the district.

A special gathering was held at the Valmec temple. Sermons were delivered, preaching love and peace while prayers were offered for the prosperity of Pakistan.

The Hindu festival, which heralds the start of spring, is observed at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month. Sweets and meals were distributed among all community members.

Talking to mediapersons, Pandit Sarwan Kumar said the festival of colours rejuvenates the spirit of fun, freedom, love, respect and happiness to blend myths with religion for promoting harmony. Felicitating the Hindu community on the festival, he said it welcomes spring, brings joy, festivity and happiness for all sections of the society and promotes celebration among all communities.

He said the shower of Holi colours had the status of Eid for the Hindu community.

He remarked that in Pakistan the Hindu community celebrates the festival with a play of colours and also burns logs of wood to symbolise the victory of good over evil and observe Holi Pooja.

He thanked the guests and representatives of other communities who attended the festival and said this was the best message for the rest of the world that Hindus in Pakistan were enjoying full religious freedom and rights like other citizens.

A large number of members of the Hindu community participated in the festivities and later they also threw colours blended in water, powdered colours and splash colour-filled balloons.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024