KARACHI: Happiness is contagious and happy occasions are open for all to celebrate. Eid may be an Islamic festival, celebrated after a month of fasting, but who doesn’t want to join in the festivities? As always, this Eid, too, will be celebrated by Muslims as well as people from all faiths across Pakistan.

The bright lights outside the many malls of Karachi beckoned as John and his wife took little daughter Nikita for Eid shopping. “We got her a new dress, pretty bangles and she got her hands painted with mehndi, too,” the father said. “Most of her friends are Muslim and celebrating Eid. And Nikita won’t be left out. She also wants to show them her new things as they show her theirs. So my kid gets new stuff for Eid as well as Christmas.”

For Lydia Extross, who is Catholic, Eid is very special as her daughter Zara is married into a Muslim family. “Wishing you and your family A VERY HAPPY EID. From Zara, Aliyah, Hamza and me Lydia. Have lots of fun,” read her SMS to her friends on Friday. Hamza is Lydia’s son-in-law and Aliyah her baby granddaughter.

“I enjoy watching the bright faces of children in various shopping centres, trying out new clothes and shoes. I love to watch little girls giggle as they shake about their arms to make their bangles jingle. I love to see them get after their elders for Eidi. My baby granddaughter will be doing the same in the next few years, Insha Allah,” she laughed.

Tushna Dubash, a Zoroastrian friend, never forgets to wish her Muslim friends Eid Mubarak on the happy occasion. A day before Eid, Tushna was wearing pretty purple, orange, green and blue glass bangles with her left palm decorated with henna. “The mehndi I got when my female colleagues called a lady, who does mehndi designs, over at work yesterday,” she said while adding that she also welcomed the Eid holidays.

“It gives us a chance to chill, meet friends, maybe go to the beach or watch a movie,” she said.

Ravi Dawani, general secretary of the All Pakistan Hindu Panchayat, said that during their Hindu festivals they present their Muslim friends with sweets and during Eid they get sweets from their Muslims friends. “During our Diwali festival or any other big occasion we never forget to share our joy with our Muslim friends. And they, too, welcome mithai, halwa and cakes from us.

“On Eid, we make it a point to stay at home during the evening as we prepare some nice snacks to welcome our Muslim friends whom we are expecting and know would drop in to share their joy with us. It is our turn to receive the mithai, sweet vermicelli and cakes.”

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2015

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