PM Imran felicitates Hindu community on Holi

Prime Minister Imran Khan felicitated the country's Hindu community on Sunday on the occasion of Holi.

"Wishing all our Hindu community a very happy Holi, the festival of colours," he said on Twitter.

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National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser as well as National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri also wished the Hindu parliamentarians and the community at learge on their special occasion. 

"This festival of light and colours provides an opportunity to spread happiness," Qaiser observed. He praised the Hindu community's role in Pakistan's uplift.

Qaiser added that all minority communities have the right to openly celebrate their religious festivals in Pakistan.  

About Holi

Holi is a Hindu spring festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent, that was celebrated predominantly in India and Nepal, but has now spread across other areas of Asia and parts of the Western world.

The festival is a celebration of the end of winter and the start of spring. Often also known as the ‘festival of colours’ or ‘festival of love’, celebrations start on the evening of the Purnima [full moon] that comes in the Hindu calendar month of ‘Phalguna,’ which is between the end of February and the middle of March.

The festival is split in two events that take place over two days.

The night before is the Holika Dahan [burning of demon holika], in which people wear new clothes, gather around a bonfire and celebrate the victory of good over evil.

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The next day is known as Rangwali Holi, in which everyone gathers for the ‘party of colours’.

They celebrate by throwing coloured powder on each other along with music and dance.

The Hindu religious festival of Holi has now become popular amongst non-Hindus as well. In many parts of South Asia and in the West, people enjoy the idea of a colour party and joyfully take part in the celebrations.