A video of students playing Holi at Quaid-I-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad has gone viral on social media, triggering a debate on the cultural and religious diversity in Pakistan. The event, which was held three months after the actual date of the festival and coincided with Pride Month, was welcomed by some as a sign of tolerance and acceptance, while others slammed it as a betrayal of Pakistan’s Islamic identity.
The video, posted by an official page for news for the university, showed students dancing and throwing colors at each other, while a DJ played music in the background. The caption claimed that it was the “biggest Holi celebration in Pakistan.” Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.
Holi celebrations in Quaid-I-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan 🍁
— QAU News (@NewsQau) June 13, 2023
Biggest holi celebration in Pakistan 💓 pic.twitter.com/xdBXwYEglt
The video received mixed responses from Twitter users, who expressed their views on the event. Some praised the university for promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity on campus and said that it reflected the vision of Quaid-I-Azam, the founder of Pakistan. They also appreciated the students for having fun and celebrating life.
Others, however, criticized the university for celebrating Holi during Pride Month and suggested that it was a deliberate attempt to pander to different communities. They also questioned why only men were seen in the video, and where were the women. They also compared QAU to other universities in Pakistan, where such events are not allowed or interrupted by religious groups.
Some users also condemned the event as a “shameless culture” and a “pagan festival” that had no place in a country built on Islamic grounds. They accused the students of having an inferiority complex and adopting foreign religions. They also wondered if Hindus in India would ever celebrate Muslim festivals like this.
 in Islamabad has gone viral on social media, triggering a debate on the cultural and religious diversity in Pakistan.){kind=link}