Festive Season: Hindu community celebrates Diwali

ABBOTTABAD: Like other parts of Pakistan, the three-day celebrations of Diwali festival began here on Saturday. The Hindu community celebrated the return of Ram with fireworks at their homes where women, children and people of all ages donned colourful dresses, lit candles and celebrated their annual festival in different parts of Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur districts. According to Shiv Temple Society Pakistan President Sham Lal, pundits will lead pooja in the 2,000-year-old Shiv Temple of Gandiyan village in Mansehra on the last day of Diwali. He said they will offer prayers for solidarity, integrity and progress of Pakistan, the Hindu community and for interfaith harmony in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2013.