Adil Najam
Sometimes you put up a picture just because its a nice picture and it makes you feel good. This is one of those times.
This picture is from ‘Dandia Nite 2006’, organized this Sunday by the Hindu community in Karachi as part of the Diwali celebrations (from Dawn, 30 October, 2006). Dandia or Dandiya is a traditional dance often performed at Hindu festivals and on religiously significant occasions.
Earlier post here. Subsequent post on Diwali Celebrations at the Pakistan Muslim League headquarters in Islamabad, here.
Diwali celebrated at PML House
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: A colourful event was held at the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) House on Monday to celebrate Diwali.
Members of the Hindu community from across the country participated in the event where they performed their religious rituals and traditional dances in candlelight to mark the event. Diwali is a rare event in Islamabad as there are only a few Hindus in Islamabad.
A number of office bearers of the party and ministers, including PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed, Minister for Religious Affairs Ijaz-ul-Haq, State Minister for Information Tariq Azim, Minister for Minorities Affairs Mushtaq Victor and members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Bindara, Donia Aziz, Akram Masih Gill and others were present on the occasion. Officials of the Indian High Commission also participated in the event.
Hussain said that Quaid-e-Azam had envisioned a Pakistan where all the religious minorities enjoyed equal rights. He underlined the importance of inter-faith harmony for the greater prosperity of the nation and announced that the PML would also celebrate the birthday of Baba Gurunanak next week. He said that the minorities played a vital role in building any nation. He said that the present government was allocating high importance to giving all minorities’ equal. Hindus are playing a leading role in country’s economic development and the present government will leave no stone unturned to ensure their safety and well being, he added.
Haq said that the minorities in Pakistan were enjoying equal rights and that they were given equal status in all spheres of life.
PML Minorities Wing President, Akram Masih Gill said that the Muslim League was a liberal, moderate and enlightened political party working for the betterment of country.
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ATP MODERATOR COMMENT:Â Post based on this story added here. Thanks.
I dunno ppl, I think sommat more modest cud hav dun the job
we need to be proud of pakistani multicultural multi religious and multi ethenic identity, Hindu community and specially sindhi hindus have contributed a lot to welfare of Pakistan. first minority minister Goginder nath mandal, famous crickters Anil dalpat,danish kaneria, snooker champion navin parwani, international Designer Deepak perwani, International film maker satish anand and everready pictures, shabnum and music director roben gosh, first pakistani to swim across english channel(cannot remember the exact name) many famous judges in lower judiciary, adhoc chief justice of Pakistan Justice Bagwan Das, famous thakar of sind Rana chander singh, Human rights and political activist sobogyan chandani.
Hindus are proud Pakistanis but some people have always doubted their loyalities to Pakistan
cool!! :)
i wanna go do dandia too! its so much fun!!
It is a nice picture and the joy on the dancers faces is endearing. Glad to see some positive pictures and news showing up.