“I lived in Ramaswami earlier, but have been living here and celebrating Holi, Diwali and all other significant days in our calendar here for the past 55 years. I am 79 today,” he said proudly.
“People from all over Karachi come to this ground every year to celebrate Holi,” said Veena A. Malani, who had come from Garden.
As the time for pooja and aarti approached, more children and even some elders mixed their colour powder with water to fill up their bottles, water pistols, and spray pumps. They spared no one as loud music played in the background. Later, the music stopped as the bhajans started.
Several young women in traditional red bridal saris were also seen arriving for the aarti as were parents with little babies. “The brides are not newly-weds. They are those women who got married this year and this is their first Holi after their wedding. They and the babies whose first Holi this is circle the Holi Mata seven times for good luck,” explained Teja Bai, an elderly devotee.
An old woman watched from afar trying not to get drenched in colour. “I am past celebrating at my age. It is my children and their children’s time to enjoy such festivals,” the woman, who introduced herself as Devi, said quietly.
“Each colour here represents something. For instance, red is the colour of happiness, green the colour of prosperity, yellow is for hope and longing, blue represents the sky and the ocean and so on. So altogether all the seven colours of the spectrum represent life,” observed Dr Suresh Kumar, a professor of pathology at the Dow University of Health Sciences, who was also present on the occasion and trying to capture the festive spirit in his camera.
For the first time there was also police presence in the area. “We are some 25 jawans providing security around here,” said Sub-Inspector Badar Rasheed. “We have been told that pretty soon this place will be jam-packed, but we are keeping our eyes open for anyone suspicious, especially people carrying big bags,” he said. Asked if he was okay with his uniform receiving splashes of colour, the SI laughed: “Well, that’s expected, isn’t it?”