Winter market kicks off Christmas festivities

Karachi embraces season with lights, laughter, festive foods and hands-on activities for children and adults alike

KARACHI:

Karachi welcomed the festive season with a lively Christmas Market at Alliance Francaise de Karachi, inspired by traditional European Christmas markets but infused with distinctly local colours.

The daylong event drew large crowds from across the city. For families, the market served as an ideal weekend outing. Children participated in Santa's Treasure Hunt, Christmas crafts, mehndi, Pot-A-Plant, and Spin the Wheel activities.

The venue was adorned in classic Christmas shades of red, white and gold, while live performances by Nixar Records, the St Anthony's Choir, and The In Time Band kept audiences entertained throughout the day.

Food stalls offered an impressive mix of traditional and international tastes—from classic Christmas turkey, flatbreads, birria tacos, and charcoal-grilled burgers to pani puri, dumplings, cinnamon rolls, brownies, and Christmas-themed coffee.

The storytelling segment featured Nida Farid presenting 'The Extraordinary Life of Riz', a session warmly received by both children and adults. Among stalls, one that stood out belonged to Genesis, a shelter home for girls who survived forced conversions and early marriages.

"We've launched a small brand for these girls. They were once victims, but today they are survivors. Genesis representative Sijal Shafique said, while speaking to The Express Tribune. "They've created small handicrafts—bracelets and other items—and they want to sell them to earn independently, regain confidence, and support their families."

She added, "The beauty of this market is that although the organiser herself is Muslim, this is a Christmas Market and minorities are welcomed here with open arms. You don't usually see Christmas being celebrated like this in Pakistan, especially in Karachi. Here, people were singing carols together without any discrimination—something rarely witnessed."

Sijal emphasised the inclusivity of the event: "It's not only Christmas-themed products. You'll find regular clothes and everyday items as well. It's like any public festival where anyone can come and buy anything. We call it a Christmas Market simply because it's held during the Christmas season."

Event organiser Irum shared the origins of the idea: "We used to celebrate Christmas very casually. I'm a Muslim myself, but our family always celebrated Christmas. Covid changed that; it forced us to stop and reflect. There was so much sorrow, loneliness, and unemployment during that period, but women showed immense resilience and started small home-based businesses."

She added, "Most of the businesses you see here today were launched during Covid by women. There's nothing imported—everything is local, handmade, and authentically Pakistani."

Irum highlighted the market's inclusivity: "The transgender community is also present here. Since they don't have their own church, they created a separate space. We also have 'Jhankar', an organisation running an ambulance service for animals—offering spay, neuter, and vaccination before returning them."

Other notable stalls included Pakistan Navy's Special Children's School, where children create items with astonishing skill, and artisans from Thar like Sunita and Sangeeta, showcasing traditional crafts.

Anand Kumar from Tharparker said, "We've created a unique line of hoodies by embedding traditional ralli patchwork into modern designs. This blend of heritage and contemporary style features patterns crafted by our artisans in Thar and Umarkot. We've recently launched the collection, starting in Karachi, and we're now expanding to Islamabad and Lahore."

The organiser emphasised the market's true essence: supporting local small businesses and women. Visitors expressed delight that Karachi is increasingly embracing global traditions like festive markets, which enrich the city's cultural life while promoting harmony across religions and communities.