A video of Navratri celebrations from across the borders in Pakistan’s Karachi has gone viral. Shot by Instagram content creator Dheeraj Mandhan, the video captures brightly lit streets, decorated temples and people out on the streets in full festive spirit in Karachi.
Mandhan’s video captures an area of Karachi in a rare reveller’s spirit. He shot the video in a part of the town which people call ‘mini India’ but Mandhan, a Pakistani Hindu, said he prefers to call this corner of the city ‘my Pakistan’.
A large, eye-catching image of Goddess Durga serves as the focal point of Mandhan’s video, surrounded by women and children dressed in vibrant outfits, joyfully performing the traditional dances of dandiya and garba.
“Navratri Day 4 in Karachi, Pakistan. What if I tell you there is an area where you can find a mandir, masjid, gurudwara, and church all within walking distance? This place is called Mini India by many, but I prefer to call it our Pakistan,” Mandhan said in his post.
It was also the first time the content creator was in his hometown for the festival.
“It was magical, mesmerising, and filled with joy. Everyone was smiling, dancing, and just soaking in the festival’s energy,” he said.
Navratri is a significant Hindu festival celebrated over nine nights, dedicated to honouring Durga and her nine avatars, known as Navdurga. The festival held in the lunar month of Ashwin is celebrated across India but also by diaspora communities living in other parts of the world. It is also celebrated with fervour in Pakistan and Bangladesh, with Bengalis in Bangladesh celebrating Durga Puja, but diminishing rights of Hindu minorities in these two countries has seen Hindus living there approach the festival with security concerns.
Comments
0 comment