Festival of lights: This Diwali, Hindu family prays for a peaceful Pakistan

A family shares what the festival means to them and how they celebrate the day.

SUKKUR:

Diwali brings special joys for the Hindu community who celebrated this event with religious zeal to pay homage to Bhagwan Shri Ram who, according to Hindu beliefs, had returned back home after spending 14 years in self-exile in the forests, said advocate Mukesh Kumar G Karara.

For his daughter, Heer, Diwali means lots of lights, firecrackers, sweets and of course the extra money to spend on chocolates, chips and juices. “My sister and I have prepared this beautiful rangoli,” she said, proudly pointing towards a rangoli made with coloured rice and tastefully decorated with earthen lamps.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Heer said this day is special for her, as she asks for many wishes, which are then answered. “For example, I pray for better grades at school, prosperity and the well-being of my parents and siblings and for a peaceful Pakistan.” In the yesteryears, she used to see her mother prepare rangoli and, this year, she has prepared one with the help of her sister. “I always look forward to such festivities because I love to celebrate them with my family and friends.”



After his return, Shri Ram was given a warm welcome by his family and others by the lighting of earthen lamps, setting off of firecrackers and distribution of sweets, her father said.

Karara said they start the festival with Arti Pooja, followed by Bhajan and prayers. Our country, he said, is facing the worst challenges of terrorism and the people of Pakistan are desperately looking for peace, which is not in sight. Today, the entire Hindu community is praying for a prosperous and peaceful Pakistan, he added.

Elaborating the idea behind rangoli, Karara’s wife, Ritta, said they used coloured rice to avoid shortage of food grains in the coming years. In the mean time, her husband brought a coin in a bowl of milk. The coin was then taken out and touched to the feet of the Bhagwan and then he touched it to his forehead. This custom was repeated by his wife and children. “We do this to appease Laxmi Devi to attract more wealth during the coming years,” he said. After completing the pooja, he offered sweets to his wife and children playing with diwali sparklers.

Pointing towards the insecurity being faced by girls in Pakistan, the wife said that they were very much worried about the security of their daughters. “I have prayed for the security of our daughters and the daughters of entire Pakistan,” she said, adding that she wished this country once again becomes an abode of peace, love and prosperity. “Our prosperity and development is linked to peace and I pray for long-lasting peace in Pakistan and the rest of the world.”



Like other parts of the country, Diwali- the festival of lights - was celebrated with religious zeal and fervour, and the hope that terrorism will come to an end and peace and prosperity will prevail in the country. All the temples throughout upper Sindh were tastefully decorated with colourful lights, where youth was seen setting off firecrackers and offering sweets to each other. Though the event was celebrated at all the temples of Sukkur, the main event was held at Napar Darbar in Bagh Hayat Ali Shah, where hundreds of people thronged to pay homage to Bhagwan Shri Ram.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th,2013.