Hindu community: Holi celebration a commemoration of minorities: Bhatti

The festival of colour is celebrated at the advent of spring.

RAWALPINDI:

The local Hindu community celebrated Holi by throwing colours on each and arranging special prayers in mandirs (temples) here on Thursday.

Holi is celebrated in remembrance of a son’s rebellion against a cruel father who claimed to be a Hindu god. The event also symbolically represents the advent of spring where the rebellious son is interpreted as a pleasant change.

Special prayers were said at the Krishna Mandir Lalkurti where the community including women and children remembered the revolt of Parnad against his father, King Hiranyakashipu. The king, according to Hindu elder Om Parakash, claimed to be a god and ordered his people to worship him. His son, Parnad, declined to follow his father who on multiple occasions tried to have him killed. Finally, the monarch decided to burn his son together with his aunt, Holiqa, who was ordered to keep Parnad in her lap before sitting in a bonfire lit to kill the boy. However, the dupatta protecting Holiqa flew away killing her but Parnad remained safe. This event assured the people of Parnad’s righteousness in declining to follow his father.

Speaking on the occasion, Advisor to the Prime Minister for National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti felicitated the Hindu community saying that the government was committed to ensure equal rights for all minority communities according the constitution. “The festival of colours will bring joy, happiness and prosperity for Pakistanis and strengthen our resolve to follow true ethical values,” he added.

Bhatti said minorities in Pakistan have suffered a lot due to unrest, terrorism and poverty. “Their condition can be improved by promoting their rights, ensuring their safety, imparting education, providing legal support, and upholding their rights of citizenship through interfaith harmony dialogue,” he said.

“All this will be possible if democratic institutions are stabilised in Pakistan leading to a society where peace, religious freedom, civil co-existence and human dignity are respected,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2012.