Hundreds of Hindus gathered to celebrate the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Muslim-majority Pakistan last month, and videos of the event have since gone viral on social media. The festival, deeply significant in Hinduism, saw a remarkable turnout in Karachi, Sindh’s capital and Pakistan’s largest city.
Jagannath Rath Yatra, primarily celebrated in the Indian state of Odisha, is renowned for its association with Lord Jagannath, considered a form of Lord Vishnu or Krishna. Every year, thousands of devotees participate in pulling the elaborately decorated chariots carrying the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
The viral videos shared by an Instagram user named Vikash depicted a large number of devotees singing bhajans and pulling the flower-adorned chariot. Notably, Pakistani flags were visible during the procession, and chilled bottles of water were distributed to the devotees, highlighting the communal harmony during the event.
This Rath Yatra in Pakistan surprised many social media users who were unaware of the Hindu community’s presence and their cultural celebrations in the country. The videos garnered millions of views and thousands of comments. One user remarked, “Thanks for showing this side of Pakistan,” while another commented, “This is our Karachi. Respect.” An Indian Muslim also expressed happiness, saying, “As an Indian Muslim, this made my heart happy.”
Despite being a minority, Hinduism is the second-largest religion in Pakistan after Islam, according to the 2023 Pakistani Census. Hindus make up 2.17% of the population, predominantly residing in Sindh, while Christians form the third-largest religious group at 1.37%.
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