A riot of colours, dance and joy

Karachi

In a city where matters of faith usually become a reason for violence and riots, a riot of another sort – one with colours, dance and joy – was witnessed over the past two days as its people came together with the Hindu community to celebrate Holi, the festival of colours.

As the sky turned a dark shade of blue and a full moon peered down, it was time for the worship to commence, and the excitement built as the gathered devotees awaited the imminent dispersion of colours in the cool night air.

This was the sight witnessed at the Swami Narayan Mandir where young men and women associated with the National Students Federation Pakistan (NSF), along with people of different religious backgrounds, joined hands to form a human chain, proving that despite all that the city has seen, the hope for co-existence still exists.

The students made sure that the traffic flow was smooth, as one of them directed a mass of rickshaws, cars and motorcycles, all the while helping women and children safely disembark at the temple entrance.

As slogans were raised for inter-faith harmony and freedom for all citizens, the message being conveyed by the chain was further strengthened with the presence of Sikhs, Christians and Hindus.

The attendees then formed a circle outside the temple to sing Sufi melodies and people clapped and danced along to the famous tune ‘Lal Meri Pat’ which brought everyone under the same roof, as some shouted ‘Holi hai’ before smearing colour all around.

However, the real riot of colours kicked off inside the temple grounds, where the joy was almost palpable thanks to the children  running around, drenched in shades of pink and purple, screaming with glee.

The main fire, lit in the centre, was now open for couples who wished to complete their respective ‘pheras’.

With many questioning the point of a public holiday on Holi, dubbed a minority festival, the members of NSF were adamant in their belief that such attitudes would only serve to further isolate communities.

Muzammal Afzal, organiser for NSF Karachi, opined that it was important to understand the risk of alienation posed at every level by not treating communities as equal citizens.

“By dubbing them minorities, we already take away a sense of belonging from them. We need to acknowledge the injustices met out to the Hindu community in Pakistan, be it in the form of forced conversion and marriages, low-employment rates or citizenship registration issues,” he said.

“It is high time to realise that divisions on the basis of religion, caste, creed or class will not take us anywhere; they will keep hindering our path to progress.”

Stressing on the need for people to come out and voice their support, NSF member Sauman Saeed, said, “Due to their limited outreach, these communities are unable to stand up for their rights. Under such circumstances, people must come forward and raise their voice for their fellows.”

As elders and youngsters alike danced away into the night, a man holding his baby daughter asked all to be gentle with the infant. When a young woman stepped forward to lightly put some green dye on the tiny arm, a boy surprised the father with a smear of dye to his face, as he winked and shouted, “Bura na manao, Holi hai!”, before throwing a fistful on his group of friends.