IT was on the next day of Eid-ul-Fitr that I visited the famed Moenjodaro Eid festival. It was a moment of euphoria for the common folk who were freely enjoying the event organized without any interference or support of the authorities. People had thronged there from all parts of Larkana, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Jacobabad and Khairpur districts. The festival started on the first day of Eid and continued for the next three days.
From village Dhani Bux Sohu to the main gate of Moenjodaro, ecstatic visitors occupied the road, covering a distance of around three kilometres. According to a rough estimate, there were more than one million people who had come to celebrate Eid with their families and friends. The presence of women and girls in considerable numbers was considered a most incontestable change seen in the tribal and feudal society of the area. Some visitors were of the view that if the Moenjodaro-Sagyoon bridge over the Indus River is constructed, the festival can attract the same number of people from Khairpur, Naushero Feroz and Nawabshah districts as well.
Moenjodaro has gotten overwhelming attention over a short span of four years. But its appeal has crossed all limits since last year when shops selling sweetmeat and other items were introduced as a result of the keen interest of Nazar Hussain Mahar, the then commissioner of Larkana division. A huge crowd of visitors pours in here from far-flung areas of northern Sindh, too.
The Moenjodaro Eid festival has become a symbol of happiness in the entire northern Sindh region. The main factor behind its success is the peaceful atmosphere of the area that has been restored since the last couple of years. Prior to it, Moenjodaro, situated on the right bank of the Indus River, was easily accessible to bandits who had their hideouts in the surrounding kutcha area. That is why tourists as well as the locals were reluctant to visit this great symbol of Sindh’s ancient civilization.
Besides the exhilarating environment, the festival provides business opportunities to a number of people of the area. This time, the contract of tickets was auctioned for Rs125,000. Although, the festival is gradually gaining fame, there are some apprehensions among the Moenjodaro-loving people about its possible destruction by the huge presence of visitors who do not care about the archaeological site during the festival.
There is also lack of basic facilities for the visitors. Although wooden chairs, trees and lawns have been added, the lack of clean drinking water, a good restaurant, toilets, etc, for visitors is badly felt. Mismanaged traffic also lead to accidents on the Moenjodaro-Larkana Road. There is also a need to set up an auditorium at the site, where cultural as well as literary activities should be organized during the festival.
In fact, people of this part of Sindh have discovered their happiness by uncovering the tourist potential of Moenjodaro that is now lending smiles to the faces of the common folk. — A.A.
IT was on the next day of Eid-ul-Fitr that I visited the famed Moenjodaro Eid festival. It was a moment of euphoria for the common folk who were freely enjoying the event organized without any interference or support of the authorities. People had thronged there from all parts of Larkana, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Jacobabad and Khairpur districts. The festival started on the first day of Eid and continued for the next three days.
