Muslims, Hindus live peacefully in Pakistani town of Mithi

In a desert town, Holi and Ramadan come together; even at the end of the Muslim call for prayer, the imam says ‘peace to Hindus and Muslims;’ if a Hindu runs for office, Muslims also vote for them, and vice versa: MP Mahesh

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In a desert town in Pakistan, Hindus prepare meals for fasting Muslims, who in turn gather to welcome a Holi procession, a rare moment of religious solidarity in the Islamic nation.

“All the traditions and rituals here are cel-ebrated together,” Raj Kumar, a 30-year-old Hindu businessman told AFP. “You will see that on Holi, Hindu youth are joined by Muslim youth, celebrating together and applying colours on each other,” he added.

“Even at the end of the Muslim call for prayer, the imam says ‘peace to Hindus and Muslims’.”

This year, the Hindu festival of Holi and the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan fell together. Both events move each year according to the lunar calendar.

Holi, the festival of colour, has for centuries marked the arrival of spring and raucous crowds playfully throw coloured powder and water over each other.

On Thursday, hundreds of Hindus held a procession through the streets of Mithi, one of the few towns where they form the majority, to be warmly welcomed at the city square by their Muslim neighbours.