PESHAWAR:
Peshawar witnessed scenes of horror this Monday but they had nothing to do with militants, bomb attacks or violence. Instead, people enjoyed a rare celebration of Halloween at a local hotel on a cold winter night where around a hundred children gathered wearing costumes as per tradition.
The gathering took place in a large hall, draped in black and adorned with scarecrows, presenting an eerie atmosphere. The participants joked and played pranks on each other in the spirit of the occasion.
Farah Qamar, a young lady dining with her family, said that it was refreshing to see such events happening in Peshawar.
“Most of the time, people in Peshawar live under constant fear because of militancy. Such events provide people an opportunity to forget their problems and enjoy themselves,” Farah told The Express Tribune.
She said that she had heard of Halloween, but this was the first time she was taking part in it.
The hotel manager said that the event had been organised to provide a change for the youngsters living in a city constantly threatened by the Taliban.
“We arranged a small programme, but it has been a huge success. We will arrange bigger programmes in the future,” he said.
While Peshawar is a city that faces some very real threats every day and Halloween’s horrors cannot ward off the true horrors it witnesses, the enthusiasm expressed by young residents shows that the city still has an appetite for entertainment, even amidst the constant fear of terrorism.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2011.
COMMENTS (20)
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Well.. Muslims do believe in Ghosts and that's a part of the Muslim belief. What's wrong with celebrating Halloween? Dedicating a single night out of a whole year to the ghosts, not a big deal. Dressing up as "ghosts" can be something controversial, since we are not supposed to make stuff up, (stuff like how ghosts probably look etc etc) and pretend to be what we are not...
@CommonSense: "Cant this society make days extracted from their own culture…Like Aladdin Ka Charagh for distributing charaghs among people, Mulla Nasurddin day for telling jokes and amusing others, Ali Baba Chalees Choor dramas… We have alot of things in our culture,"
Alibaba, Alladin etc are Arabian stories. Nothing to do with SOuth Asian culture.
@MarkH:
I think it's a pagan harvest celebration festival converted to Christian All Saints Day which changed to present day Halloween
Over sensitive. Halloween may have some form of religious foundation but, 99% and that figure is actually quite close to being accurate, of the people in western countries aren't even aware of it. They just like dressing up and getting candy.
This is the product of secularism and progressiveness. No wonder the muslims are making great progress all around the world. Muslims are currently ruling over the world due to having this secular & progressive mindset. Way to go Pakistanis , you guys are also on the road to progressive destruction just like every other muslim states.
As to set the record straight, The "purity" of culture is a myth! As for the critics of such events you can celebrate the death anniversary of Faateh-Islam Baitullah Mehsud, Birthday of Jalaludin Haqqani and Holiday in solidarity with Mangal Bagh and if I go on I there are soo many of these good people [sic] that I think the Gregorian Calendar would shy away to accommodate so many holidays and festivals (with all pun intended)
Peshawar and Halloween. Perfect setting.
Judging from the comments we have more Taliban readership than actual Taliban in Peshawar.
Let the kids have fun. Why everything in PAK has to be tainted with religious outlook. Those of you who suddenly became religious, give a candy to kids next time you see them on the streets. You will make them smile.
@ common sense @zzz
Alladin was from Iraq, Mulla Nasiruddin from Central Asian republic, Ali Baba from Syria .Culture of our land is Ranjeet singh, sassi punna heer ranjha, or you may add the whole of what is now Pakistan/India.
This is a fantastic story. I am glad the citizens of Peshawar have been given a small breather after 10years of continuous attacks.
Trick or treat?
Cant this society make days extracted from their own culture...Like Aladdin Ka Charagh for distributing charaghs among people, Mulla Nasurddin day for telling jokes and amusing others, Ali Baba Chalees Choor dramas... We have alot of things in our culture, we dont need to run behind cinderalla, hawollen stories...Let them make their own cultural days, and we should make our own...Create a Entrepreneurship ability, Come on...
where is our culture who will come forward and teach our youngsters about our religion. where were our religion party's when this activity was on underway while big billboard was on PC hotels main gate about hallowean. Shame on us. There must be programe regarding Eid ul Azha showing its cause and so on... Allah hamari halat per reham karay. Ameen
Whats wrong with people having a little fun? Its not about some one trying to destroy our culture and please don't make it so.
Good to hear that yet another thing accomplished in western entertainment check list. Just don't follow their attitude towards work, which is extremely "Haram" :).
Americans are trying to destroy our culture....listen to our azaan and weekly last and final warnings....
Nice event for kids
as per tradition.
Whose tradition?