Daily Times

KARACHI: The festival of Eidul Fitr is celebrated across the country not only by Muslims but also by followers of other faiths like Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism. Whether it is shopping for new clothes ahead of Eid, family outings on chaand raat or sharing traditional sweet meats on Eid day – people from different faiths partake in Eid festivities.

Several non-Muslim residents of Karachi told Daily Times that they marked the day by exchanging Eid greetings with their Muslim neighbours. They said that on chaand raat, the night before Eid, they took their families out for shopping for clothes and getting henna designs on their palms and bangles. A Hindu couple from Karachi said they made sure to buy new dress and jewellery including bangles and bracelets for their daughter, Urveshi. “We also take her out for getting henna designs on her palms,” they said.

“Most of her friends are Muslims. We want Urevshi to join them in their celebrations and not to feel left out,” they said. “My daughter has become quite fond of sharing the joy of Eid with her Muslim friends,” Urveshi’s mother said. For her, she said, Eid marked an occasion when families visited shopping malls and bazaars to try out new dresses and shoes. “I love watching little girls giggle as they get henna designs on their palms and try different varieties of bangles on their arms,” she said.

Helen, a school teacher, says she makes it a point to wish a happy Eid to her Muslim friends. “All my sisters wear pretty and colourful bangles and get henna designs on their palms to mark the occasion. We also invite our friends to our home during Eid holidays,” she said.

“The holiday gives me a chance to just relax, meet friends, go for outings or watch a movie with friends,” she added. Helen said she appreciated the enthusiasm with which Eid was celebrated. “After fasting for a month, Muslims share food and special dishes,” she said.

Richard D’souza is a priest at St. James Church. He says that Christian and Muslim residents in the vicinity of the church joined one another on their religious festivals every year. “Sharing one another’s happiness on the occasion of religious festivals promotes interfaith harmony,” he said.

Goswami Vijay Gir Maharaj, a pandit at Darya Lal Mandir, said exchange of sweets on all major Hindu and Muslims festivals has been a regular tradition of neighbourhoods in mandir’s vicinity. “We offer sweets to Muslims on Eid and other festivals and they treat us on our festivals,” he said.