11-10-2007, 10:21 AM
A cracking Diwali
* Dandia livens up temple after 20 years
By Shahnawaz Khan
LAHORE: Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, kicked off at Krishna Temple on Ravi Road on Friday. The festivities were special this year because the devotees danced the dandia at the temple again after 20 years.
Wearing colourful dresses and holding candles, a large number of participants, which included Hindus and representatives from many other religions eagerly waited for the festival to start on Friday. The excitement was especially high because of the scheduled dance. But it would only come after a number of rituals.
Saloni, a young Hindu girl said, âI am very excited because I have never seen the dandia live. Iâve only seen it on TV.â Sunny, a Hindu youth, said âFour years ago, we could not imagine celebrating our festivals openly, but now people have become very tolerant and have started respecting us.â He said, âFirst we are Pakistanis, then Hindus.â
The festival started with recitation from the Ramayana (an ancient Sanskrit epic which is an important part of the Hindu canon) and arti (a ritual, in which from wicks soaked in (purified butter) or is offered to the gods). After these rituals, Sunita Chand put the sindoor (red powder) on the foreheads of the participants.
Manohar Chand, secretary general of the All Pakistan Balmik Hindu Sabha, addressed the participants and gave the message of peace. Christian representative Father James Chanan, Muslim representative Mehnaz Atta and Sikh representative Gulab Singh addressed the ceremony. After the worship was complete, the participants lit small diyas (clay lamps) on all walls of the temple. This was followed by a small fireworks show in the temple during which the youngsters danced with phooljharis (firecrackers). The elders started another session of worship in which they sung hymns with music.
After the last session of worship, the dandia started. Seven couples danced with sticks to loud music. The dance last for an hour. After the dance, the administration distributed prasad and langar (charity food) among the participants.
The temple was beautifully illuminated and decorated with motifs. Banners were also displayed with Happy Diwali written in Urdu, English and Hindi.
The templeâs administrator Manohar Chand said the Evacuee Trust Property (ETPB) had played a vital role in organising the Diwali celebrations. The police had provided foolproof security arrangement. A metal and explosives detector was also installed at the templeâs gate.
Foreign students celebrate: Several foreign Hindu students studying in various institutions of the city celebrated Diwali at Krishna Mandir on Friday.
Yogita Bista, a Nepalese student at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), told Daily Times that she had enjoyed the Diwali celebrations. She said the festival was celebrated for five days in Nepal, each day having a different theme. She said she missed her family, especially because on Saturday the people in Nepal would celebrate the fourth day of the festival, the Bhai Tikal, in which the Nepalese girls worshipped their brothers and prayed for their (brothersâ) long lives. She said the though reminds her of her brother.
Bibecha, a Bhutanese student at Fatima Jinnah Medical College, told Daily Times that she missed her family on the festival. She said she had bought a new dress for the festival and had invited all her friends to a party. Modnath, a Nepalese student at the Punjab university (PU) Institute of Communication Studies, told Daily Times that he had arranged a party at PU hostel number 2 to celebrate the festival.
The Pak Nepal Mitrat, a society working to improve relations between Pakistan and Nepal, has arranged a ceremony for the Nepalese students to celebrate Diwali.
Home | Lahore
<img src='http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2007/11/10/20071110_e04.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2007/11/10/20071110_e08.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Diwali being celebrated at Saddarâs Swami Narain temple Friday night.
* Dandia livens up temple after 20 years
By Shahnawaz Khan
LAHORE: Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, kicked off at Krishna Temple on Ravi Road on Friday. The festivities were special this year because the devotees danced the dandia at the temple again after 20 years.
Wearing colourful dresses and holding candles, a large number of participants, which included Hindus and representatives from many other religions eagerly waited for the festival to start on Friday. The excitement was especially high because of the scheduled dance. But it would only come after a number of rituals.
Saloni, a young Hindu girl said, âI am very excited because I have never seen the dandia live. Iâve only seen it on TV.â Sunny, a Hindu youth, said âFour years ago, we could not imagine celebrating our festivals openly, but now people have become very tolerant and have started respecting us.â He said, âFirst we are Pakistanis, then Hindus.â
The festival started with recitation from the Ramayana (an ancient Sanskrit epic which is an important part of the Hindu canon) and arti (a ritual, in which from wicks soaked in (purified butter) or is offered to the gods). After these rituals, Sunita Chand put the sindoor (red powder) on the foreheads of the participants.
Manohar Chand, secretary general of the All Pakistan Balmik Hindu Sabha, addressed the participants and gave the message of peace. Christian representative Father James Chanan, Muslim representative Mehnaz Atta and Sikh representative Gulab Singh addressed the ceremony. After the worship was complete, the participants lit small diyas (clay lamps) on all walls of the temple. This was followed by a small fireworks show in the temple during which the youngsters danced with phooljharis (firecrackers). The elders started another session of worship in which they sung hymns with music.
After the last session of worship, the dandia started. Seven couples danced with sticks to loud music. The dance last for an hour. After the dance, the administration distributed prasad and langar (charity food) among the participants.
The temple was beautifully illuminated and decorated with motifs. Banners were also displayed with Happy Diwali written in Urdu, English and Hindi.
The templeâs administrator Manohar Chand said the Evacuee Trust Property (ETPB) had played a vital role in organising the Diwali celebrations. The police had provided foolproof security arrangement. A metal and explosives detector was also installed at the templeâs gate.
Foreign students celebrate: Several foreign Hindu students studying in various institutions of the city celebrated Diwali at Krishna Mandir on Friday.
Yogita Bista, a Nepalese student at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), told Daily Times that she had enjoyed the Diwali celebrations. She said the festival was celebrated for five days in Nepal, each day having a different theme. She said she missed her family, especially because on Saturday the people in Nepal would celebrate the fourth day of the festival, the Bhai Tikal, in which the Nepalese girls worshipped their brothers and prayed for their (brothersâ) long lives. She said the though reminds her of her brother.
Bibecha, a Bhutanese student at Fatima Jinnah Medical College, told Daily Times that she missed her family on the festival. She said she had bought a new dress for the festival and had invited all her friends to a party. Modnath, a Nepalese student at the Punjab university (PU) Institute of Communication Studies, told Daily Times that he had arranged a party at PU hostel number 2 to celebrate the festival.
The Pak Nepal Mitrat, a society working to improve relations between Pakistan and Nepal, has arranged a ceremony for the Nepalese students to celebrate Diwali.
Home | Lahore
<img src='http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2007/11/10/20071110_e04.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2007/11/10/20071110_e08.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Diwali being celebrated at Saddarâs Swami Narain temple Friday night.