Daily Times

According to Ruth Benedict, “the crucial differences which distinguish human societies and human beings are not biological. They are cultural.”

Like other societies, Baghban Pura Lahore is also has its unique culture. The word Baghban Pura literally means ‘Town of Gardeners’ since this place was originally surrounded by many gardens, mainly owned by the family of Arain Mian. But as time passes, all the gardens and agricultural fields are now converted into a developed city, and the only remaining garden is the Shalimar Garden, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Baghban Pura is a town and Union council of tehsil Shalimar, District Lahore. It is situated along the Grand Trunk Road approximately 5 kilometers north-east of the main city of Lahore. The people of Baghban Pura have different religious composition.

Every society has different cultural and special events, celebrated annually. According to the Government of Pakistan Archives (2012), Baghban Pura also celebrates its festivals, such as Mela Chiraghan or Mela Shalimar’s “Festival of Lights” is an annual three-day festival to commemorate the Punjabi Sufi poet and saint Shah Hussain’s death anniversary. It takes place in Baghbanpura Shah Hussain Shrine. The festival of Mela Chiraghan used to take place in Shalimar Gardens before President Ayub Khan ordered it in 1958. In 1962, Shalimar was officially declared a township and in 2001 became a District Lahore City administrative town (tehsil).

Another popular festival is Basant. Basant is a Punjabi festival that marks the spring’s arrival. Basant celebrations in Pakistan are based in Lahore especially in northern Lahore (Baghban Pura, Singhpura, Haji Pura, etc)

In this study, the health habits of the people of Baghban Pura were observed. One of the good health habit especially in youth is that they participate in outdoor games such as cricket, football, hockey, badminton. They also go to the gym. Such lifestyle and physical activities keep them healthy; prevent obesity, type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiac issues and other health problems.

Another good health habit of the people was that; they do not use junk food unlike other Lahori people. That’s why they remain smart, fresh, active. Moreover, avoiding junk food keeps them away from greater risk of obesity, depression, digestive problems, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer and early death.

The unhealthy health habits of these people were also being observed such as smoking, and use of tobacco in huqqa by the old people. Another unhealthy health habit found in the people of Baghban Pura is that they do not use filtered water or boiled water, leading to many health problems such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis and dysentery etc.

The culture of Baghban Pura is unique, and has its historical importance. Most of the people are illiterate. But now youth is getting education and in development process. Like other societies, they also have some good health habits, and some bad health habits causing different health problems, but that can be improved with mutual efforts of local people, social organizations, and community health care professionals and local government.