Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission has submitted a notice to universities banning the celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival of colors. This restriction follows videos of students celebrating the festival circulating on social media. The commission claimed that such activities were an erosion of Islamic identity and showed a complete disconnect from Pakistan’s socio-cultural values. This is not the first time Pakistan has issued such a diktat during a religious holiday, as the commission previously prohibited Diwali celebrations.
Both Holi and Diwali are Hindu festivals with roots in India’s culture and religion. They are often celebrated worldwide, including in Pakistan, where there is a significant Hindu population. Despite this, Pakistan, as a Muslim-majority country, prohibits certain aspects of the celebrations due to their perceived contradiction with Islamic values.
The prohibition of Holi, however, news that’s been met with criticism by individuals who view it as an infringement of personal and religious freedoms. It is unclear whether the decision will be followed by universities and if any repercussions will be enforced for breaking the directive.
This recent notice from the Higher Education Commission has sparked a conversation about the relationship between religious diversity and national identity in Pakistan. Some argue that diversity should be celebrated, respected, and that it is an essential aspect of what makes a nation uniquely its own. On the other hand, others contend that prioritizing religious values over national values is necessary to maintain a country’s identity, in this case, Pakistan’s identity as a Muslim nation.
As the conversation continues, it remains to be seen how Pakistan’s universities will respond to the ban, and whether this decision will set a precedent for future diktats on religious activities that conflict with national values.
