Diwali: A symphony of lights and sound

KARACHI: The roar of the firecrackers and brightness of fireworks owned the sky above Shri Swaminarayan Temple as members of Hindu and Sikh community gathered to celebrate the feat of good over evil Thursday night.

Hindu and Sikh devotees, from different backgrounds and origins, came to the temple to pay their respects and enjoy the festival of lights, Diwali, with their families.

A pavement inside the temple was specifically dedicated just for fireworks, and different kinds of firecrackers.

While most of the men, unmoved by the loudness of the crackers, experimented with different forms of patakhas [crackers] near the pavement, the women stood on the sides looking at the fireworks, too scared to come close.

Veena, a middle-aged woman wearing a blue Chunari saree, shared “the festival is just about children. We take them shopping, buy new clothes for them, get bangles and of course crackers for boys.”

“The girls don’t come near firecrackers because they get scared easily,” she shared, adding that her saree got burnt last Diwali due to a cracker.

Speaking about Diwali, Shama, a resident of Lyari, shared that the essence of the festival is reconnecting with family and community members. “We will go meet our relatives tomorrow [Friday],” said an excited Shama.

“On the first day of the festival, we visit the temple and pay our respects. However, we will be up all night and will go meet our relatives tomorrow,” she said.

“We have gotten our house repainted and lit diyas [oil lamps] everywhere,” she remarked, adding that this is the time for family members to forgive each other’s grievances and just celebrate.

The festival holds significance for people from a wide variety of beliefs, but the essence of the celebration remains the same; victory of light over darkness. 

While some believe that it marks the celebration of Hindu goddess Lakshmi, for others it is celebrating the return of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.

According to Sikh beliefs, the festival marks the day Guru Har Gobind arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, after freeing himself from the Gwalior Fort.

The euphoric spirit of Diwali unites people to celebrate diversity and tolerance.

Not just members of Hindu and Sikh communities, but many Muslims and Christians too joined the festivities. A Hindu girl, dressed in blue, had come to the temple with two of her Christian friends.

Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Saeed Ghani also visited the temple to show solidarity with the Hindu community. While speaking to media, he said: “PPP does not believe in engaging in politics of religion.”

He remarked that the party’s Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari always stands with minority communities.

“We want to change Pakistan’s global image that minorities are being persecuted here,” he remarked, adding that the party hopes to portray a positive image of the country.

“Hindus and Christians celebrate Eid with us, we should also celebrate their festivals with them.”

Moreover, four members of the transgender community, donned in shiny and bright clothes, also participated in the festivities.

While speaking to Geo News, one of them said: “Diwali makes us happy as we get to meet people on the auspicious occasion.”

Happiness is the same for everyone, she added.

Another shared, “We are here so that the Hindu community does not feel left out.”