Holi not the same in Balochistan this year
Celebrations in Kalat District cancelled after murder of royal family member.
QUETTA:
The Hindu community in Balochistan has decided to celebrate Holi with simplicity this year as their top spiritual leader, abducted three months ago, is still missing.
Meanwhile in Kalat District, the community has decided to cancel all celebrations because of the assassination of a member of the royal family of Kalat. Agha Mehmood Ahmedzai, who is also the nephew of a provincial minister, was shot dead early this week.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the community’s Kalat chapter under the chairmanship of Divaan Harichand, Makhi Chand and Chaudhry Jettanand. Maharaja of the historic Kali Mandir, Luckmi Chand Garji, was abducted last December and there is still no trace of him.
“Law enforcement agencies have failed to trace the kidnapped Hindu leader despite a lapse of three months,” Harichand said, adding that the government had been assuring the community for the maharaja’s safe recovery but his whereabouts were yet to be ascertained.
The population of Hindus in Balochistan is more than 200,000. The festival of Holi is scheduled to be celebrated on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2011.
The Hindu community in Balochistan has decided to celebrate Holi with simplicity this year as their top spiritual leader, abducted three months ago, is still missing.
Meanwhile in Kalat District, the community has decided to cancel all celebrations because of the assassination of a member of the royal family of Kalat. Agha Mehmood Ahmedzai, who is also the nephew of a provincial minister, was shot dead early this week.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the community’s Kalat chapter under the chairmanship of Divaan Harichand, Makhi Chand and Chaudhry Jettanand. Maharaja of the historic Kali Mandir, Luckmi Chand Garji, was abducted last December and there is still no trace of him.
“Law enforcement agencies have failed to trace the kidnapped Hindu leader despite a lapse of three months,” Harichand said, adding that the government had been assuring the community for the maharaja’s safe recovery but his whereabouts were yet to be ascertained.
The population of Hindus in Balochistan is more than 200,000. The festival of Holi is scheduled to be celebrated on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2011.