Eidul Azha celebrated in twin cities with traditional fervour

Families flocked to parks and hill stations to enjoy barbeques and scenic views

ISLAMABAD: Just like in other parts of the country, Eidul Azha was celebrated in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi with traditional and religious fervor.

The first day of Eid started with Eid congregations held in Eidgahs, mosques and open places in different parts of the twin cities. After which the slaughtering of sacrificial animals was held, which continued till the third day of Eid.



Meanwhile during these days, public places such as parks, cinemas, restaurants and picnic spots remained packed. People were seen setting up barbeque grills and enjoying with their families at Rawal Lake View Park, Pir Sohawa, Daman-e-Koh, Nawaz Sharif Park, Shahdara, Shah Allah Ditta, and Pakistan Monument among others. A large number of people also travelled towards hill stations in order to enjoy the barbeque along with the cool weather in Murree, Nathia Gali, Abbottabad and surrounding areas. Groups of people expressed their joy by dancing on road sides, playing loud music, and dressing in colorful attire.



Long queues of cars stretched for miles were witnessed on major roads of the twin cities like Margalla Road, Kashmir Highway, Murree Road, Rawal Road, IJP Road, and Express Way among others. The road to Pir Sohawa remained jam-packed on all three days of Eid which caused severe traffic congestion at Margalla Road.

On the other hand sanitary workers both in Rawalpindi and Islamabad kept on cleaning the roads and streets by lifting the leftovers of sacrificial animals thrown on the roads by the residents in different parts of the cities.  However rural areas like Bhara Kahu remained ignored and piles of sacrificial animals were seen along road sides, commercial areas and residential areas which caused a pungent smell.

Low attendance on the third day of Eid was observed in government offices and schools. The Government had announced three days of Eid holidays starting from Tuesday August 21 till Thursday August 23. On the third day of Eid people were asked to resume their work, but a majority of the people took leave on the third day of Eid.



In the meantime bus stations, railway stations and Motorways remained crowded on the third day of Eid as people who had one to their native villages or cities started returning to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

However the extremely hot and humid weather during the day time on three consecutive days of Eid created uneasiness and discomfort among the residents of the twin cities. Though it rained during late hours and early mornings on the three days of Eid, the weather still remained humid and hot.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2018.