ISLAMABA: The Hindu festival of Diwali, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness, was celebrated with traditional enthusiasm and religious devotion at the historic Krishna Temple on Ravi Road in Lahore, highlighting the spirit of religious coexistence and interfaith harmony.
The main ceremony was organised by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. Members of the Hindu community, along with representatives of Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities, attended the celebrations and extended greetings and good wishes to the Hindu community on the occasion.
The historic temple was beautifully illuminated with colourful lights and decorated with flower arrangements, creating a festive atmosphere. Special prayers and religious rituals, including the traditional Puja of Lord Rama, were performed as devotees gathered to celebrate the festival with religious fervour.
The celebrations reflected the values of peace, brotherhood, religious tolerance and mutual respect among different faiths. ETPB Secretary Nazeer Mushtaq attended the ceremony as the chief guest, while Deputy Secretary Shrines Usman Khan and Deputy Secretary General Saadat Shahbaz Khan were also present.
Similar celebrations were organised at other religious sites under the administration of the ETPB, including Ashwala Teja Temple in Sialkot, as well as temples and religious venues in Dadu, Karachi and Sukkur, where members of the Hindu community marked the occasion with traditional enthusiasm and devotion.
On the special instructions of ETPB Chairman Qamar Zaman, comprehensive arrangements were made to facilitate the Hindu community and ensure that the festival was celebrated in a peaceful, secure and dignified environment.
Addressing the ceremony, ETPB Secretary Nazeer Mushtaq said ensuring that religious minorities had equal opportunities to celebrate their festivals freely, safely and in accordance with their religious beliefs was among the board’s key responsibilities.
He said the maintenance, renovation and preservation of places of worship belonging to minority communities, along with the provision of necessary facilities for religious ceremonies, reflected the government’s commitment to promoting religious tolerance and interfaith harmony.
He further said that the freedom enjoyed by the Hindu community to celebrate its religious festivals in Pakistan represented an example of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among different religious communities. –Agencies
