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By APD writer Muhammad Sohail
KARACHI, Oct. 20 (APD) – It was the wee hours of Thursday in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, members of the Hindu community were thronging to the temples to attend the special worship sessions to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth as per Hindu mythology.
Suresh Kumar, who is physician by profession, was also among the hundreds of people who reached the temple participated in the rituals.
Festivities related to welcome the Goddess of Wealth is called Diwali, which continued from morning till late night.
Diwali or festival of lights also coincides with the return of Lord Rama, another major mythological character who as per belief returned home after an exile of 14 years.
“It basically represents the triumph of good over evil," said Suresh Kumar, a religious scholar, mentioning that Diwali is one of the important festivals celebrated by the Hindu community, the festivity of which spreads over a period of three to five days.
Karachi, which had registered a certain re-surge in the numbers of the middle-class Hindus during the last couple of years, is gradually regaining a certain recognition in terms of different events commemorated under the Hindu calendar, predominantly being Holi and Diwali.
Markets of gold ornaments registered an unusual hustle and bustle at this point of time because Hindu community like to purchase gold on the occasion in Pakistan.
Kumar told that procuring wealth is an essential part of Diwali celebrations, and people prefer to procure the wealth in accordance with their capacities, adding that in present day scenario many of the people prefer to purchase prize bonds of varied denominations as well as shares of different commercial entities.
Rajendar, a young accountant from Badin city, said that he likes to visit his friends and extended families to greet each other.
"Many of my non-Hindu friends await for specially prepared sweets, considered to be a specialty of ours," said Rajendar.
Malti, a government employee, uncurtained her plans for the night saying that they will arrange music shows on self-help basis.
About the celebrations peculiar to the festival of light, she said is from evening till late night that members of the community from all parts of the metropolis prefer to join special celebrations at the centrally located Shri Swaminarayan Temple.
There are several small as well as mid-sized temples in Karachi, however, 200 years old, Swaminarayan is the largest one with a sizable number of Hindus living around and therefore many prefer to join the religious ritual performed here.
The rituals including recitation of holy verses and hymns also encompass specially arranged fireworks, leaving a colorful trail in the night sky.
Colorful patterns created on the floor with sand, rice or flower petals, called Rangolis are also very peculiar to the occasion as members of the community decorating their homes and temples with fairy lights and clay lamps make extra efforts to make Rangoli at their homes and temples.
Lighting up firecrackers, another integral component of celebration these firecrackers as per tradition among the community may go on continuously during the night and much to the amusement of children often found playing with sparklers.
Attired in colorful and traditional costumes members of the community are little reluctant to allow others to join the festivity.
It was, therefore, no surprise to see non-Hindu vendors selling balloons, garlands and even souvenirs related to the occasion.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
