Love, festivity and joy are not confined to creed, colour, religion or any other boundary, and this spirit is manifested in the attraction of religious minorities of Pakistan towards Eid.
Eid, a religious festival for Muslims, is also an event of happiness for the non-Muslim population of Pakistan and they celebrate it in a manner similar to that of Muslims. New clothes, sweets, exchange of wishes and monetary gifts are all hallmarks of Eid celebrations followed by non-Muslims as well.
In Pakistan, almost 5 percent of the population follows religions other than Islam. After Christians, there come Hindus who make up a notable part of the minorities. Sikhs, Buddhists and followers of other religion also make up some percentage of the population. Most Christians live in Punjab while Hindus mostly live in interior Sindh.
Suresh Kumar, a Hindu of Umer Kot, Sindh, is a right activist and works for a Sindhi newspaper and television channel. Talking to Pakistan Today, he said: “I personally love Eid celebrations and enjoy the occasion with my Muslim friends. I give Eidi to younger children of my family and wish my Muslim friends. Our Muslim neighbours also send sweets to us on Eid.”
Suresh said in some areas, people discriminate and do not participate in each others’ occasions, which was a pity. He said belonging to the same land, “our relations must not be confined to religious level only, we should share sorrow and happiness of each other”.
However, Sindh University law student Bhopat Roay disagreed with Suresh and said in reality, all communities maintained a distance. Some educated people, especially the youth included their non-Muslim fellows in Eid celebrations but the communities never mixed, he said. Though Hindus also celebrate the day, Roay said, but mostly on their own. “Media and civil society organisations in recent times have brought openness to communities. ‘Janamashtahmi’ (Birthday of Lord Krishna), a Hindu religious event, was celebrated together by Hindus and Muslims,” he said.
Mukesh Kumar, another Hindu psychology student at Sindh University said Sufism had a rich tradition of brotherhood between different religions and the same spirit should be shown for such events. He said sweets were prepared in Hindus homes and Muslim females visited their Hindu friends on Eid, mostly secretly however. He claimed that youth was more open and did not value religious discrimination these days.
Madiha Joseph, a Christian student of Forman Christian College, said she had planned Eid celebrations with her Muslim fellows and would go to their homes to wish them on Eid. “The concept of Eidi seems very charming to me and I also ask my parents for Eidi. My friend’s mother gives me Eidi and sends sweets to our home early on Eid morning,” she added.
Famous inter-religious harmony activist Julius Salik, representing Christians, said they also feel happy on the eve of Eid and celebrate it with their Muslim brothers. “We enjoy festivity with Muslims and also share happiness with them on Christmas,” he said. For ensuring harmony, it was necessary to share happiness and sorrows of each other, he added.
Religious scholar Khalid Farooqi said Islam was a religion of peace and it directed its followers to include others in their festivals. He said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advised Muslims to take care of their neighbours regardless of religious beliefs. It was misconception in the society that Islam prohibited including disbelievers in Muslim celebrations, he added.
Quoting the Quran he said, in Surah Mumtahina Allah has directed Muslims to treat those disbelievers with justice and kindness who are not hostile to Muslims. “It is a good opportunity to attract them towards Islam and we should try to avail it fully,” said Farooqi.