Diwali was celeberated with religious fervor all across Pakistan. Hindus lit lamps and prayed in many mandirs all over the country. Hindus make up 1.5%(approx. 2.5 million/official figures) of the Pakistani population(most of them live in Sind) and enjoy full religious freedom of expression. For the last few years Pakistani minorities are better represented in the main stream and among the Pakistani media, thanks to the government efforts. Pakistani Hindus can participate in joint electorate and have their seperate desiganted seats in parliament to elect their own leaders.
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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Hindu community Tuesday celebrated Diwali (Festival of Lights) with religious zeal and zest likewise all across the globe. They arranged special rituals and programmes to observe one of the most sacred events of the Hindus.
The Hindus and Diwali participants lit special lamps (Diwa) at their homes and worshiplaces to mark the day. They prayed for peace in the country and wished progress and prosrity to all.
The Diwali spirit seems to have survived the global financial crisis with the Hindus splurging on luxury sweets, lamps and gifts and getting together to celebrate the festival of lights. The shopping centres were swamped over the weekend by the Hindu families doing the last-minute shopping for Diwali.
As shoppers piled everything from fancy clay lamps and fireworks to imported sweetmeats and fancy lighting into their cars, shopkeepers, who had expected a downturn, rubbed their hands in glee.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza greeted the Hindu parlimantarians and community on Diwali. She said she was delighted to send the warmest greetings to the Hindu MNAs and everyone in the Hindu community on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.
She said Diwali was such a wonderful inclusive festival, which reached beyond the communities to people of many backgrounds all over the world. “The symbolic illuminations on the occasion represent life and hope and send a powerful message of unity and peace to all of us.”
In her message, the speaker also recognised the huge contributions made by the Pakistani Hindu community for prosperity of the country as something the Pakistnis could all be immensely proud of. She said their involvement in every sphere of the national life was something extermely commendable.
NA Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi also conveyed his sincere and warm greetings on Diwali to his fellow Hindu members of the National Assembly. He also appreciated their contributions to the national development, fostering national unity and cohesion.
