PESHAWAR — Holi in Pakistan, the festival of colors, symbolizes joy, unity, and renewal. However, Pakistan’s Hindu community experiences it as a painful reminder of exclusion. The ancient Prahladpuri Temple in Multan, the birthplace of the festival, remains neglected instead of hosting vibrant celebrations.
On 11 May 2025, a group of Pakistani Hindus traveled to this sacred site to celebrate Narsimha Jayanti and perform Narsimha Pooja. Their ancestors had followed this tradition for generations, offering prayers at the very place where holi in Pakistan’s legend began. Yet, as they reached the temple’s entrance, authorities stopped them.
“They stopped us,” recalled one devotee, his voice filled with frustration and grief. “We pleaded—begged—to enter our own temple.” After repeated requests, authorities allowed them inside but only for a brief moment before forcing them out, treating their faith as an inconvenience.
Hindus in Pakistan live this reality daily. A festival meant to unite and uplift instead highlights their status as second-class citizens. Across the country, people celebrate holi in Pakistan in small gatherings, yet the very place where it originated remains off-limits to those who cherish it most.
The disparity is glaring. Sufi shrines in Pakistan welcome thousands of devotees without restrictions. Meanwhile, centuries-old Hindu temples crumble from neglect. Authorities impose bureaucratic hurdles and security restrictions, forcing worshippers to seek permission to enter sites that rightfully belong to them.
“We do not ask for favors,” said another devotee. “We demand our constitutional rights.”
Pakistan’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, yet the Hindu community’s experiences tell a different story. Holi in Pakistan, once a joyous festival, now represents alienation. Laughter has given way to restricted spaces and unanswered pleas.
As holi in Pakistan approaches from 14 to 16 March 2025, Pakistani Hindus call for security, dignity, and the right to celebrate at Prahladpuri Temple. They urge the government to recognize their existence—not just in legal documents but through real action.
If authorities continue to ignore their demands, they will raise their voices on every platform, refusing to let history erase them. Holi in Pakistan is a festival of colors, but for Pakistan’s Hindus, it increasingly takes on the hues of sorrow.
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