Hindu festival: Raksha Bandhan celebrated with fervour in Peshawar

PESHAWAR:

The Hindu community of the provincial capital observed the festival of Rakhsha Bandhan on Thursday. The celebration was arranged at the Hindu Balmiki Temple, Kalibari, and Hindu community members from all over the province participated in the festivities.

According to Haroon Sarab Dayal, leader of the Hindu community, the Hindu goddess Laxmi tied a ‘rakhi’ to King Bali, adding to the importance of this event. “Basically, rakhi is a thread... after tying it to someone outside of the family, a girl can enjoy the same status and treatment as that person’s real sister,” he said.

Ratan Kumar, a local who works with a marketing company said that Raksha Bandhan symbolizes the sister’s wishes for the brother’s long age, so that he could protect his sister well.

Peshawar Hindu Balmiki Mahsaba President Ram Lal said that the festival starts from mid July and for a month they engage in worship every day.

He said that at present there were about 437 Hindu families living in Peshawar and four temples across the city. Kalibari temple, however, was a major temple which is visited by Hindu community members from other parts of the province as well.

While praising the public for cooperating, he said the Hindu community was satisfied with the security arrangements and so far they have not faced any disturbance in performing their religious activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2012.