Holi celebrations start across Sindh
Photo credit: Jalal Qureshi
Like the rest of the province, Holi celebrations started in Karachi on Monday. The festival of colours will continue on Tuesday (today) to mark the end of the winter season and heralds the arrival of spring.
The Hindu community in Karachi starts celebrations on the eve of Holi with dandiya dance on religious songs and express happiness by putting colours on each other.
On the day of Holi, different types of sweets and food are prepared.
People collect firewood to make bonfires - a ritual known as Holika. An effigy of Holika is burnt amidst a large pile of wood symbolising the victory of good over evil.
People put home-made sweets, cow dung cakes and wheat and gram stalks into the fire.
Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Giyanchand Esrani has sent a letter to IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon asking for special security arrangements at places of worship of Hindu community across Sindh.
Photo credit: Jalal Qureshi
Sindh government has announced March 6 and 7 as public holiday for the Hindu community on the occasion of Holi.
Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori joined the Hindu community in Holi celebration as show of solidarity with the minorities on their festive occasion.
A similar festive mood was witnessed from Hyderabad to Thatta, Badin, Sujawal and across Tharparkar and in Mirpurkhas.
The Hindu community of Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Jaccababad, KashmoreKandhkot, Shikarpur and other districts of northern Sindh celebrated the annual religious festival on Monday.
Special ceremonies are being held at Sadhu Bela Temple, situated on the Indus River, Liaquat Chowk Temple, Sukkur and Balmiki Sabha Temple of Saddar Mohallah Shikarpur, Station Road, Khairpur, Pakistan Chowk Kashmore- Kandhkot, Mirpur Mathelo and other areas.
Holi festival proceedings in Shikarpur were led by veteran Hindu astrologist Mangay Ram and other local social activists.
Photo credit: Jalal Qureshi
Holi festival also celebrates with devotion and colorfully by the Bagri community, a scheduled caste of the Hindu community, in Kandhkot and Naushahro Feroze.
Meanwhile, Mukhi Aishwar Lal and Faqir Gokal Das Chohan exchanged Holi greetings with Muslim compatriots in Shikarpur and Kandhkot and prayed for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT BY APP