20000106

Islamabad evolving

its own

Eid culture

ISLAMABAD: As the capital, that is now home to 0.8 million people hailing from all provinces, evolves a culture of its own. A lot of people are beginning to find it more comfortable to celebrate Eid in its serene environs.

Those days seem to be flying off when Islamabad would become a ghost city after the mass departure of people near festive occasions as citizens now develop a closer association with the city. They discover and share traditions and cultures of varied backgrounds.

"We came here in mid 1980s and found it a bland affair to spend Eid holidays here Ñ but now with the passage of time the city appears to have developed a congenial atmosphere as people stay back and mix up on these occasions," a bank employee Rafat Insari said.

One factor behind this gradual transformation of the capital on Eid occasions is a swift spurt in Islamabad population in the 1990s which brought in a large middle class that comprises businessmen, traders and experts working in the multinationals.

"Although, thousands of families still leave the capital on Eids, it does not become a deserted place Ñ and people throng at the markets even just before Eid Ñ which was not the case about 10 years back," Abdul Sattar, who runs a departmental store, said.

Some people suggest that spiralling transport fares may also be holding back a large number of people in the city, specially those having big families and those belonging to far off places.

"Costly travelling plus the traditional Eid expenses make it difficult to move out Ñ the money saved by avoiding the travel can be spent on marking the occasion in a better manner Ñ like a trip to Rawal Dam, Daman-e-Koh or Shakarparian," said a lecturer posted in a local college.

Of late, this trend, has helped create a lively culture of celebrating the Eid outdoors.

Islamabad being close to Murree also holds attraction for the people, specially the rich class, to celebrate the Eid amid natural surroundings of the famous hilly resort.

"That also brings a lot of visitors from other cities to Islamabad as after visiting the hill station people want to see capital tourist resorts," a tourism department official said.

As for the young people, born and brought up here, there seems to be a natural affinity for them to celebrate Eid in the capital as against the earlier generation, who would always go back to their hometowns on festive occasions.

"I think the grand gathering for Eid prayers at the Faisal mosque, that brings people of varied cultures and origins, symbolises the city's acquiring a distinctive culture of its own," says Rafat Insari.

The fact that a large number of people offer Eid prayers in mosques in many sectors bespeaks of Islamabad is shrugging off its image of being a ghost town on such occasions.ÑAPP