With a day off now, Hindus look forward to a wholesome Holi

Karachi

Echoing the centuries-old traditions of the victory of good over evil, the Hindu community let a sigh of relief at the announcement of a public holiday by provincial government on the account of Holi festival.

The two-day festival which falls on the 14 of the month of Falgun is celebrated through a colour fight all over the world. However, it is the first time in history that a holiday has been announced for the occasion — a step dubbed as a gesture of diversity by the elders of the community.

With a day left in the festival children in Narainpura have already started preparing for the big event with them trying out purple, yellow and pink dyes as one of them balances a water-filled plastic bag while the other adds the powdered colour diffusing to make a dark liquid.

The elders shout at the younger lot as the liquid is soon filled up in transparent water guns only to be shot at the farthest target, unaware of the range.

The popular colony, which is home to Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, is in full swing as the members of all three communities dwell in harmony by going by the virtue of “live and let live”.

Running a small shop of sweets, crisps and seasoned, boiled potatoes, Paro affirms that never before was the government so benevolent to announce a day off: “I used to work in the Civil Hospital and we went to our work. We got back earlier than usual but we worked nevertheless. However during the Eid holidays we had to do double-shifts because of staff shortage as well so it would be a relief to have an entire day for ourselves.”

A young man, Karan Chauhan who is a college student tells Paro in swift Gujraati that she should narrate all about the festival for she has been there in the community ever since he opened his eyes.

He excitedly speaks about many of the couples who would circle around the lit fire before the festivities kick off.

Parkash P Chanaal, who represents the community, leads to the elders of the community who narrate their times when celebrating Holi was not as convenient because of work: “We would go our work and return till 12pm to look after all the arrangements. Although we made sure to make the best of it, it was tiring nevertheless,” shares Daya Laal.

Although a statement which sounds clichéd as to how the city was more tolerant in the previous decades, the men are glad that at least a holiday was announced, which is something they all look forward to.

“Although we took a half day on the day of event, it wasn’t easy to show up at work the next day because well, we need to admit that we couldn’t go looking like a bhoot,” laughs Sohan Laal who says that the dyes don’t go off easily and children had to take an off at any cost.

“Children enjoy the most and they play with colours with complete ease, and although they could take an off, but this time there won’t be any burden of missing any classes,” says Chanaal.

Pundit Vishram Chanaal reminisced times when people outside Narainpura would eagerly wait to see members post Holi celebration.

“After getting doused in colours, we would go out and ask everyone to give us some sum like it is given on Eid. Shopkeepers or anyone passing by gave away all they had because there was an air of celebration for all,” he remembers.

“A month before the event, womenfolk would do traditional dance as the details of Holi festival were read out accompanied by a drum. However now we feel that we have been given a national importance as our events are being considered on that level,” Chanaal added.

As the dwellers buy the necessary equipment from various shops, Laal points out that while it is easier to fill the guns, they used to save bottles of mosquito sprays to be later used for this purpose. Making the way out through narrow lanes, the Christians preparing for Easter and Good Friday are also helping out Hindus since the two occasions have been falling in the same Georgian month.

“After Holi, we will have our Good Friday and Easter celebration and during our march early in the morning on Sunday, when we sing hymns and prayers, many of our fellows will also join us, rather they also served us food after we had  fasted,” shared one of the members. 

With Bollywood songs associated with Holi blasting through speakers, the buyers and shopkeepers busy themselves in bargaining the rates of dyes as the riders speed off after getting loads of packets for the festival of colours.