QUETTA, PAKISTAN, March 8, 2012 (Forum for Hindu Awakening): The Hindu community in Quetta and some other parts of Balochistan celebrated Holi on Wednesday.
People of all ages from the community were seen on the Masjid Road in the provincial capital celebrating the colourful festival. “We are enjoying the festival. There are no distinctions between us, class, age or gender,” said Rahul Kumar, a young man whose shirt was soaked in colored water.
Holi was also celebrated in Naushki, Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, Lasbela, Dadhar, Nasirabad, Mastung, Kalat and Khuzdar. The members of the Hindu community also organised religious ceremonies at their residences and temples.
It is pertinent to mention that the business-oriented Hindu community of the province announced to celebrate the festival with simplicity due to the sharp rise in kidnappings incidents, particularly targeting the traders and businessmen of the community.
According to a rough estimate, the Hindu population in Balochistan is of around 200,000 people, and most of them are traders and businessmen.