ISLAMABAD (APP): The Hindu community based in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad Sunday celebrated Holi festival by smearing ‘Abeer’ or red vermilion powder and throwing colour and water-filled balloons at each other.
Talking to APP, President Pakistan Hindu-Sikh Social Welfare Council, member Punjab minority council, Jagmohan Kumar Arora said the main Holi celebrations were held at Krishna Mandir Rawalpindi. Over 200 members of the community celebrated their festival of colours.
The event started at 6 pm and continued till 10 pm.At the end food was distributed among the participants.
The event is the Festival of Colours in the Hindu religious calendar, and it signifies new beginnings, leaving behind Winter and welcoming Spring.
The festival has been linked with the burning of Holika. It revolves around the mythology of the demon king Hiranya Kashyapu ordering his sister Holika to enter a fire with Pralhad, son of the demon king and a devout follower of Lord Bishnu, in her lap so that Pralhad would stop chanting the name of the Lord.
The catch was that Holika wouldn’t burn in the fire because of a boon she had received from god. But it so happened that the fire burnt Holika whereas Pralhad remained unharmed and came out of the fire still chanting the name of god.
Then onwards, the festival is being celebrated by smearing colour in enjoyment.There is also a saying that Lord Bishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused.
Elders believe that any premonitions can be avoided if “Tika” made from the ashes of the ‘Chir’ is put on one’s forehead or kept in the house.
Revelry in the form of pelting pedestrians with water-filled balloons from the upper windows of houses usually marks the festival.
Besides its historic and religious significance, the festival is linked to the well-being and prosperity of the locals. It also promotes tourism and trade.
KARACHI: “Besides playing with colours and having so much fun we are also fulfilling a religious obligation here so our God who provided us with the chance to share this happiness will also protect us and do our rakhsha,” said Ganga Kumari with rosy cheeks, green neck and a yellow and purple forehead at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir here on Sunday evening.
“Yes, we are concerned about our safety after hearing all the terrible things coming out from Larkana but we have faith in God,” added the woman who said she hailed from Lyari.
“This ground behind the temple is a very safe place. We can play Holi here till 5am and know we will be fine,” said young Gautam Veerani, who added that each year Hindu devotees from all parts of the city headed there to celebrate the festival.
Another devotee, Kailash Rakhi, who also agreed with the other two, said that even though they were not so worried about security issues themselves, the temple authorities must have thought about it as the celebration of Holi commenced rather earlier than usual this time. “It usually starts at around 8pm but today it’s all over by 8.30pm,” he observed, looking at the remains of the Holi Mata set ablaze almost as soon as the sun set.
But whatever the time or circumstances under which the festival of colours was celebrated, it was an occasion of happiness nonetheless. Loud Holi songs from hit Bollywood movies blared away from the speakers. Naughty boys with plastic spray and squeeze bottles, water guns and pistols full of colour water spared no one as they cashed around their friends while announcing “Happy Holi!” as the girls sweetly approached you with powder colour in their hands and the greeting “Holi Hai” before rubbing colour on your cheeks and forehead.While all the seven colours of the spectrum representing one thing or the other such as red and pink gulal being associated with happiness, green with prosperity, yellow with hope, blue with the sky and ocean and so on was being splashed just about everywhere and on everyone, there were also a lot of silver and gold which seemed to be more popular with the youngsters this year. But the more permanent oil colours were strictly prohibited.
“Oil colours don’t come off very easily. If you are doing something as shagun or festivity it shouldn’t hurt you in the process. Oil colours can hurt if you are allergic to them and many people are,” said Sita Kumari, who was rubbing green and yellow powder on the cheeks of everyone she came into contact with.
Sunil Kumar selling colours in small packets of Rs10 and Rs20 outside the temple said that the oil colours contained some kind of acid, too, making it toxic. “So we have decided to just not sell it this time though we are getting plenty of demands for it from some of the rowdy kids. But what can they do about it when we are not selling it,” he laughed. “We are selling this safe and cheep colour powder so that everyone can enjoy this day without harming anyone,” he added.
Still some people although they had turned up for the puja were trying their best to protect themselves from getting drenched or coloured. Dilip Kumar and his wife Mala were trying to keep their infant baby girl, Drishti, away from it all. “This is our daughter’s first Holi but please don’t put any colour on her. Her skin is very soft and sensitive,” the father requested.
Govind Das K. Dewani, had his head covered with a red scarf with a gold border. “This is not just a scarf but Mata ki chunri, and I’m wearing it to protect my hair. I just washed my hair today and applied oil to it so I’m in no mood to shampoo again tonight,” he chuckled.
“We all come here to celebrate Holi but then avoid getting drenched in the colours, which is strange,” said Prem Kumar. “We are anyway not going to bed without having a good bath today which washes away all the colours leaving us clean and refreshed after all the excitement. The clothes can easily be washed in detergent, too,” he said.
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