Sindh trying to give all facilities to minorities in every walk of life: CM

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday said his government has been making the best possible efforts to provide all the necessary facilities to members of religious minorities in the province in every walk of life.

A statement issued to greet members of the Hindu community on their Holi festival, quoted the CM as saying that the Pakistan Peoples Party has always promoted the cause of providing all the fundamental rights of religious minorities in accordance with the constitution.

He mentioned that members of religious minorities enjoy complete freedom to perform their religious rites in the province and elsewhere in the country. He acknowledged the active role played by the Hindu community in the development and progress of the country.

He said the Hindu community having complete freedom to commemorate their religious festivals is testament to the fact that their members have been living peacefully in the country in a prosperous way while making efforts to develop the country.

Shah said his government paid salaries, pensions, allowances and other dues in advance to their employees from the Hindu community before the Holi festival. He mentioned that the celebration of the Holi festival marks the advent of the spring season to spread joy and peace.

Nawabshah incident

The CM expressed deep sorrow that six people had lost their lives in an incident in Nawabshah. He asked the provincial police chief to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and submit a detailed report to him.

According to the initial briefing provided to the chief executive, six people lost their lives and eight others were injured in an armed clash due to a dispute over a farmland. The deceased and the injured were taken to a nearby hospital.

Police in the entire district have been put on high alert, with an increase in the deployment of their personnel, due to the continuing tense situation in the troubled area.

Holika Dahan

Ajay Kumar, a pharmacist by profession, told The News that according to Hindu mythology, Holika was the sister of a demon king Hiranyakashipu. She was granted a boon by Lord Brahma that fire would not affect her.

In collusion with her brother, she plotted to kill her nephew Prahlada because he used to worship Lord Vishnu. Taking her nephew in her lap, she sat on fire, hoping that she would be saved but the boy would be killed.

However, things went the other way. The boy took Vishnu’s name and was saved but Holika was burnt. Since then Hindus celebrate this event as Holi on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month called Phalguna, at the end of winter and the start of spring. This typically falls in February or March on the Gregorian calendar. Holi marks the triumph of good over evil.

Kumar celebrated Holika Dahan with his family, other relatives and friends at his residence in Karachi. They burned cow dungs and moved in circles around it, celebrating the end of negative powers. After that they served each other sweets. He said that the day after Holi or Holika Dahan they would celebrate Dhuli, in which they would play with each other with colours.