The Color of Hindu Holi in Islamic Pakistan.

The Color of Hindu Holi in Islamic Pakistan. Cultural therapy administered to a Race in Ventilation.

Festival of colours: With prayers for peace, Holi celebrated in Rawalpindi.

At About 1pm, Hindu residents of the area gathered at the Krishna Mandir at Kabari Bazaar, Railway Road on Wednesday. The gathering was organised by the All Pakistan Hindu-Sikh Social Welfare Association.

The association’s president Jagmohan Kumar Arora, while talking to The Express Tribune said that Hindus celebrated Holi on the eve of spring.

The gathering also marked a commemoration of the killing of Raja Harnaksh, an ancient prince who claimed to be a god, Arora added.

He said that adequate security was provided by the area police around the temple.

Arora said that a number of Muslims, Sikhs as well as followers of Bahá’í Faith also attended the celebrations at the temple.

He said that National Assembly Member Dr Ramesh Kumar belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also attended the celebrations.

Arora said that they also celebrated Pakistan’s National Day.

He said that the participants prayed for peace and prosperity of Pakistan.

Arora said that Hindus believed that Pakistan would one day become a peaceful country.

He said that Holi celebrations were also organised at Balmik Mandir in Gracy Lines (Chaklala).

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2016

Notification on Holi reissued in Sindh.

Dawn | Karachi | March 24, 2016:: A notification by the Sindh government’s labour and human resources department on Wednesday calling holiday on Holi “only” for Hindu workers created confusion hours before the March 24 public holiday and invited intervention from higher authorities to withdraw the fresh orders, officials said.

The Sindh government last week notified March 24 as a public holiday throughout the province on the Hindu festival. (Read also: In a first, Sindh declares public holiday on Holi).

However, the labour and human resources department issued a notification on Wednesday which said: “The Sindh government is pleased to declare March 24 as public holiday on the occasion of Holi, religious festival of Hindu community and shall be observed by all the Hindu workers only in the province of Sindh.”

With the new notification causing confusion, the chief secretary intervened for withdrawal of the labour and human resources department’s notification. (Read also: Why a public holiday on Holi isn’t enough).

“Announcement of public holiday in the province is discretionary power of the chief minister,” said a CM House spokesman. “The chief minister announced the public holiday across the province which cannot be reversed without his authority. The labour and human resources department’s notification has been withdrawn on directives of the chief secretary so the announcement of March 24 public holiday stands valid with no change in its status.”

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2016

Holi being celebrated in Karachi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXQbqoAFo9E

Published in Channel 24 News. March 23rd, 2016

Holi hai!: Festival of colours begins.

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The Express Tribune | Karachi-Sukkur | March 24, 2016:: We are celebrating two important events on one day, said Hindu Panchayat Sukkur president Mukhi Eshwar Lal Makheja while talking to The Express Tribune on Wednesday at Gao Shala, where a large number of people had gathered to celebrate Holi.

Makheja said the word ‘holi’ originates from ‘Holika’, one of the evil sisters of King Hiranyakashipu. According to him, the festival itself is believed to have links with the Parahlada-Puri Temple in Multan. He explained that some time ago, the temple was damaged due to riots but now it has been rehabilitated. This temple was constructed by Prahlada, Hiranyakashipu’s son, he informed. (Read also: Shaan, Sukhwinder come together to celebrate unity on Holi) 

Makheja said his elders had told him that King Hiranyakashipu was the King of Multan and had earned certain powers, due to which he had become very arrogant and declared himself as god and ordered people to worship him. Hiranyakashipu’s own son, Prahlada disagreed with his claims, as he was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and was subjected to cruel punishments, according to Makheja.

“Nothing seemed to work but then Holika, Prahlada’s evil aunt, advised her brother to make Prahlada embrace a pre-heated iron bar,” he explained. To the surprise of the king, his son not only embraced the hot bar but kept smiling at his father and Prahlada’s followers started dancing out of jubilance and threw colour, which was the start of the Holi festival, he added.

Karachi festivities

“The respect, equal opportunities and equal playing field in all socio-political sectors that the Pakistan Peoples Party has provided to the minorities cannot be found in any other party or the government,” said Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at the Hindu Gymkhana in Karachi. He said that in the history of the country and the province, only the Sindh government passed the Hindu Marriage Act.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2016.

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Courtesy: To all sources in Pakistan. Happy Holi.