In pictures: Pakistan's Hindu community celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights

The festival holds significance as a means of spreading joy upon Hindu god Rama's return after defeating Ravana.
Published October 20, 2017

Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrated by Hindu and Sikh communities, involves plenty of excitement which includes offering pooja, preparing sweetmeats, exchanging gifts, decorating homes, donning new clothes, drawing rangoli and setting off fireworks.

The celebration has religious significance as a way of spreading joy on Hindu god Rama’s victorious return to his people after defeating Ravana and completing his 14 years of exile.

It is also believed that the Hindu goddess of wealth Lakshmi was incarnated on the new moon day.

At the Shri Swami Narayan Mandir on Thursday, it was much more than just fireworks and noise.

Boys could be seen playing around the temple with firecrackers and sparklers. They would sneak around every unsuspecting soul to light a cracker and then enjoy watching them scream and jump with fright.

The little girls in pretty dresses, meanwhile, lit little oil lamps lining the rangoli outside their main doors. And the firework fountains, commonly called anaar, were the favourites with little boys as well as girls.

As some of the parents stood around with their kids to supervise them, others left them on their own so that they could greet each other.

Read more: Festival of lights Diwali celebrated with joy in city

Hindu community of Karachi celebrating festival of Diwali. ─ PPI
Hindu community of Karachi celebrating festival of Diwali. ─ PPI

Hindu ladies perform religious rituals during the Dewali Festival at Durgah Shiva Mandir in Hyderabad. ─ APP
Hindu ladies perform religious rituals during the Dewali Festival at Durgah Shiva Mandir in Hyderabad. ─ APP

A Hindu family celebrates Diwali festival in their home. ─ APP
A Hindu family celebrates Diwali festival in their home. ─ APP

Hindu community of Karachi celebrating the festival of Diwali on 
Thursday. ─ PPI
Hindu community of Karachi celebrating the festival of Diwali on Thursday. ─ PPI

Hindu community of Karachi celebrating the festival of lights symbolising the victory of 
righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. ─ PPI
Hindu community of Karachi celebrating the festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. ─ PPI

Women belonging to the Hindu community watch a firework display during Diwali celebrations at the Hindu Colony Swaminarayan Mandir. ─ APP
Women belonging to the Hindu community watch a firework display during Diwali celebrations at the Hindu Colony Swaminarayan Mandir. ─ APP

Women belonging to the Hindu community in Hyderabad perform religious rituals during the Dewali Festival at Durgah Shiva Mandir. ─ APP
Women belonging to the Hindu community in Hyderabad perform religious rituals during the Dewali Festival at Durgah Shiva Mandir. ─ APP

Women belonging to the Hindu community make ‘rangoli’ to celebrate Diwali at Karachi's Hindu Colony at the Swaminarayan Mandir. ─ APP
Women belonging to the Hindu community make ‘rangoli’ to celebrate Diwali at Karachi's Hindu Colony at the Swaminarayan Mandir. ─ APP

A Hindu family performs a religious ritual to celebrates Diwali at their home. ─ APP
A Hindu family performs a religious ritual to celebrates Diwali at their home. ─ APP

Members of Karachi's Hindu community celebrate Diwali on Thursday. ─ PPI
Members of Karachi's Hindu community celebrate Diwali on Thursday. ─ PPI

Members of Karachi's Hindu community celebrate Diwali. ─ PPI
Members of Karachi's Hindu community celebrate Diwali. ─ PPI

Young women belonging to Karachi's Hindu community take selfies at the Hindu Colony at Swaminarayan Mandir. ─ APP
Young women belonging to Karachi's Hindu community take selfies at the Hindu Colony at Swaminarayan Mandir. ─ APP

A woman belonging to Karachi's Hindu community plays with fireworks. ─ APP
A woman belonging to Karachi's Hindu community plays with fireworks. ─ APP