Holi – the festival of colors – celebrated across Pakistan by the Hindu community of the country. In Rawalpindi, there are hardly 600 Hindu families, most of them belong to Valmiki sect of Hinduism. There are two Valmiki and a Krishna Mandir in Rawalpindi. As colors of Holi are in the air, here, sharing some photographs of Holi celebration at a Valmiki mandir in Rawalpindi. The curator of mandir Jagjit Bhatti says that tell the world that Hindus in Pakistan are celebrating Holi with its full colors, we are safe here. This Valmiki mandir, located at Chaklala area of Rawalpindi is a pre-partition temple. It was built in 1935 and since that time it is active. After the partition most of the Hindus migrated from the area reducing Hindu population to the minimum in the city. This Valmiki mandir is of the three active temples of the city where Hindus pray and celebrate their religious festival on regular basis.
A friend comments that these are sad pictures, these faces demonstrate their minority status rather religious freedom or festivity, as Holi is not a ‘temple festival’, it is celebrated outdoor during day time. I have no words to argue but all I have these photographs that I would to share with you.
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Shiraz Hassan is a magazine reporter and feature writer for Sunday Magazine in Lahore, Pakistan, where he covers social issues, art and culture. At the magazine, he has published more than 400 features related to social problems, culture and ‘show biz.’ Shiraz has also worked as a news editor at the radio network “MAST FM 103” in Lahore.
He writes about culture and heritage of South Asia, particularly Pakistan. He advocates rich culture of this land and tries to explore facts. Recently he was given an award from the Federal Ministry of Population Welfare for his article on population crises. Writers Guild also awarded him a Medal of excellence for his work.
