Diwali in Karachi

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The place resounded with the sound of devotional songs, temple bells and loud firecrackers. All around, there was illumination. I attended the Diwali celebrations at the Swaminarayan temple a short while ago. It is located in the heart of Karachi's old city area, on M. A. Jinnah Road, across the imposing colonial Municipal Corporation building. There are hundreds of houses around this temple, inhabited by some of Karachi’s Hindu population. Pakistan has approximately 3 million Hindus. Diwali is celebrated with fervour. There are many temples in the city but there is only one Lord Swaminarayan temple in the entire country. This was constructed in 1849. Tonight the hustle bustle in and around the temple is a mixture of Hindus congregating here for worship as well as several media persons converging here to record the various activities.