RAWALPINDI: The five-day celebrations of Diwali – the Hindu festival of lights – concluded on Tuesday with a mass Puja (prayer) at Krishna Temple in Saddar.

The garrison city’s Hindu community had decorated their houses with colourful patterns known as Rangoli and lit earthen lamps. Families visited their neighbours and relatives and exchanged gifts and sweets.

The Diwali festival is celebrated to mark the day Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman returned home after 14 years of exile. It is also the beginning of the New Year of the Hindu calendar.

The festival started last week but the main congregation was held on the concluding day on Tuesday. The temple was decorated and earthen lamps lit up at every corner of the premises. Special security arrangements were made on the occasion. The festival started with Gayatri Mantra followed by recitation of verses from Ramayana and a collective prayer.

The community also offered special prayers for the country.

Before the formal prayer, Bhajans were sung and the local priest, Jai Ram, narrated the summarised story of Ramayana - the story of Rama.

Talking to Dawn, Jai Ram explained that the Hindus celebrated the festival in their houses and then the main Puja (prayer) was held on the last day in the temple.

“After the victory of Ram Jee and his return to Ayodhya, people lit earthen lamps with mustard oil to celebrate the occasion and from then on the event is being celebrated,” Jai Ram said.

He said Diwali symbolised the victory of good over evil, and lamps were lit as a sign of celebration and hope for the mankind.

He said during the festival, every family bought new utensils and gifted them to relatives and offered Dhan Teras Puja in their houses.

According to All-Pakistan Hindu Sikh Welfare Organisation President Heera Lal, the festival is connected with deep-rooted cultural values of Hindu religion. People wake up early in the morning, wear new clothes, offer prayers and touch the feet of their elders and in return elders give them Diwali gifts.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2023