Spring celebrated with colours in Karachi

KARACHI: To mark the victory of good over evil, people were seen smearing coloured power on each other on the premises of a Hindu neighbourhood in Karachi.

"We celebrate the festival to mark the beginning of spring when plants and crops start to bloom with colour," a man who was at the celebrations with his family said while talking to Geo.tv. "As per a myth, holi is also celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil."  

 The ground where celebrations were under way is located in a neighbourhood majorly occupied by people of the Hindu community. A temple, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, is also situated on the premises.

Before the fire was burnt in the middle of the ground, women were seen busy placing around the tower of wood and dung cake, offerings of coconut, sweetmeat and garlands that they had brought decorated in a thaali. Once all the offerings are made, the fire is burnt.

People then sing hymns and pray after which women, and some along with their husbands, go around the fire.

At the other side of the ground, some people were seen dancing on songs about Holi, while all around the premises children and adults were busy smearing colour on each other's faces. 

Outside the ground, opposite to the temple were stalls of artificial jewellery, toys and coloured powered lined next to each other. Some of them were regular, but their business boomed when festivals neared. However, the colour stall was set up only 10 days ago in which the sellers said they managed to do business of nearly 500 kilogrammes of coloured powder.

"The colour is made in Joriya Bazaar," one of the sellers at the stall said. "There is a small factory that makes the most money only once in a year and that is when Holi is around the corner."

Besides the celebrations that were in full swing in the premises, outside at the gate security was sufficiently tight. The personnel of Rapid Response Force of the Sindh police were guarding the entrance. Even ambulances were parked as a precautionary measure.