Hindu community celebrating Diwali festival with religious zeal

The Hindu community residing in Pakistan and around the world is celebrating the Diwali festival today with traditional religious zeal and fervour.

Known as the ‘festival of lights’, Diwali – or Deepavali – symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. According to the Hindu belief, it is observed in honour of deities Rama and Sita’s return to Ayodhya after their 14-year exile, and the destruction by Goddess Durga of a demon called Mahisha. Diwali also celebrates the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi.

The festival is celebrated by decorating houses with lamps called ‘diyas’, fairy lights and candles.

The Hindu community is celebrating the occasion with prayers and ceremonies planned at the various temples across Pakistan.

In Hyderabad, the pundits and devotees are holding prayers in different temples including Jay Bhawani Temple (Hirabad), Rama Pir Temple (Mochi Muhallah Sirrighat), GuruNanik Temple (Tilak Incline), Kali Temple (Feteh Chowk), ValmekTemple (Tando Wali Mohammad), Haray Krishna Temple (Cantt Area), Maa Durga Temple (Tando Wali Mohammad), Shankar Temple (Phullelli), Sain Baba Temple (ShahabCinema) and Lakhsmi Mata Temple (Qasimabad).

In Sukkur, the main gathering is being held at Sadhu Bela Temple. In Karachi, the Shri Swaminarayan Temple, among others, will be lit up to celebrate the occasion.

Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier today extended Diwali greetings to the Hindu community. “Wishing all our Hindu citizens a happy Diwali,” he tweeted.

Wishing all our Hindu citizens a happy Diwali.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 7, 2018

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also wished to those celebrating the festival. “Happy Diwaali to Hindus in Pakistan and around the world, Diwali symbolises victory of good over evil, the struggle is continuing …,” he posted on Twitter.