Tag: Holi

  • Muslim family attacked by Hindutva extremists during Holi in India

    Muslim family attacked by Hindutva extremists during Holi in India

    A Muslim family in India was targeted by a group of young men and boys who sprayed water and Holi colors on them without their consent.

    The incident, captured on video, shows the group forcibly applying colors to the family while chanting religious slogans, ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’.

    Despite the family’s protests, the harassment persisted, with the perpetrators seen laughing as they continue.

    The Bijnor police arrested one individual and detained three juveniles. Authorities have intervened, emphasizing the necessity of obtaining consent before putting colors on people during the holy festival.

  • HEC withdraws notification banning Holi

    The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has withdrawn a controversial ban on Holi celebrations in universities.

    A notification issued by HEC on Thursday stated that the commission is respectful of faith, religions, beliefs and the festivals associated with them.

    “Considering that the message inferred from the communication has regrettably led to misinterpretation, HEC is pleased to inform the same,” the notification added.

    On Tuesday, the Commission caused outrage when it banned Holi celebrations in educational institutes throughout the country, citing a deviation from the sociocultural values and Islamic identity of Pakistan.

    The notification read that students are prohibited from observing the festival to uphold sociocultural values.

    On Wednesday night, Salman Sufi, the head of Prime Minister’s Strategic Reform Unit, said in a tweet that HEC has been asked to withdraw the notification about banning Holi in universities.

    He wrote that he had spoken to Rana Tanveer Hussain, adding that he has asked HEC them to withdraw it.

    The decision came a few days after Holi celebrations were held on June 12 by students at Quaid-i-Azam University.

  • Hindu students attacked for celebrating Holi at Punjab University

    Hindu students at Punjab University were attacked by Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) on Tuesday for celebrating their religious festival Holi with the permission of the administration at Punjab University’s new campus.

    As a result, at least 15 students of the Hindu community were injured. Videos of the incident uploaded on social media show a group of IJT members thrashing the minority community members.

    Other videos showed the security guards carrying batons and beating the students while they were running from the scene.

    Sindh Council Secretary General Kashif Brohi said that 15 students from both the Hindu community and Sindh Council suffered injuries and moved away without celebrating the event, reports Dawn.

    He said the IJT activists started hurling threats after students had posted invitations [Holi celebration] on their Facebook page.

    On the contrary, IJT spokesperson Ibrahim Shahid told Dawn that they did not stop the Hindu community members from celebrating Holi. He said the attackers might have used their name but the IJT would ensure equality for minority community members to hold their religious events.

    He claimed they were holding Dars-i-Quran on the campus and were not present there.

    However, in the past, IJT was responsible for many attacks on students.

    Activist Ammar Ali Jan, condemning the attack, said: “It reflects a deep sense of paranoia that stems from our need to expel impurities” from our own past.

    He added that this sickness will continue unless we accept and celebrate the many histories and cultures that shape our country.”

  • BTS plays Holi with water balloons in filmy style, enjoy together like BFFs

    BTS has become the most-followed boy band not just in their home country South Korea but also all around the globe. The septet has kept their fanbase, popularly known as ARMY, vividly entertained through their fun online game sessions and hit songs that maintain a top spot on the chart for weeks straight. In a recently edited video doing the rounds on social media, a part of the group can be seen playing Holi on an open field with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’s song playing in the background.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CUhUMWJYvI

    For the unversed, the Bangtan Boys have lately been in the news for their recent three-day concert which kicked off on March 10 and ended on the 13th. The show was a massive hit even though there were strict guidelines issued by the government in the wake of COVID 19. In the most recent turn of events, their managing company, Big Hit recently announced a fresh live show schedule which is expected to happen in Los Angeles right after their Grammys performance.

    In a recent short clip doing the rounds on Instagram, BTS’ J-Hope and V can be seen playing Holi on a green field. The original clip was taken from an episode of Bon Voyage where the two members randomly started playing with water guns and balloons while the rest of the group was chilling indoors.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezWUYbcz-mE

    In this Holi clip of BTS, an Indian ARMY has added the popular song Balam Pichkari from the Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. In the first frame, Taehyung aka V can be seen running around behind J Hope to get him drenched in water. Hobi’s revenge is also clearly sweet as he smashes the opponent with a bunch of water balloons.

  • Shaniera Akram shocked to see her husband ‘in his underwear’

    An old picture of Wasim Akram playing Holi in Bangalore recently took the internet by storm. The picture, dating back to 1987, was widely shared by social media users, including Akram himself, who used it to wish Holi to his followers.

    According to details, “the picture was taken during Pakistan cricket team’s 1986-87 tour of India for five Tests and six ODIs.”

    While the internet had a blast with Akram’s picture, turns out his wife Shaniera hadn’t seen it and was late to the party.

    “Opened Twitter today and the first thing I saw was a pic of my husband in his underwear! Is that normal?,” questioned Shaniera.

    “Haha what’s not normal is that I’m the last to know when a pic of my husband in his underwear has gone viral,” added Shaniera.

    She also complimented Wasim saying: “Cute pic Waz”

    Responding to Shaniera’s comments, Wasim joked: “It’s a new normal biwi and for your kind information they are shorts.”

  • Ex-Indian cricketer recalls when ‘shy’ Imran Khan didn’t leave his hotel room to play Holi

    Ex-Indian cricketer recalls when ‘shy’ Imran Khan didn’t leave his hotel room to play Holi

    Former India wicketkeeper Kiran More has recalled the time when Pakistani and Indian cricketers celebrated the festival of Holi together in Bangalore.

    Pakistan toured India in 1986-87 for five Tests and six ODIs, and after the first four Tests ended in a draw, More’s mind harked back to the time when the players from both teams, except then Pakistani skipper and now prime minister (PM), Imran Khan, got together ahead of the final match in Bangalore and “painted the hotel red”.

    “We were really fighting hard for that whole series, but in that Test match, I’ll never forget that Holi we played on the rest day, with the Pakistani team and Indian team,” More said on ‘The Greatest Rivalry‘ podcast.

    “[It was] at Bangalore’s Westin hotel, I still remember. The whole hotel was painted red. The swimming pool, all the rooms, every corner of the hotel was painted red. And we had a great time. Both Pakistani and Indian cricketers were trying to get Imran Khan out of his room. He was the captain, and he was a shy character. We were also trying to get into his room to put colour on him.”

    More further revealed how Javed Miandad kept the party going even after the Holi celebrations were done with. A day before the final Test, players of both teams had a ball, but despite repeated efforts, were unable to get a shy Imran out of his hotel room.

    “He didn’t come out. Javed [Miandad] was instrumental in that Holi time, the whole day, we did Holi together, we had lunch together. Had bhangra music, there were a few friends of ours who joined that party. We had a great time, and next day, we were playing a Test match again,” More added.

    “On the field, both teams wanted to win, and sledging was huge that time from both sides. Off the field, it was a great time that we had. I’ll never forget that Holi.”