SSC Lesson No. 2 - Festivals of Pakistan - FBISE

 Lesson No. 2 - Festivals of Pakistan

Original Texts, Questions and Answers

FBISE, SSC 2, 

Festival is a public celebration of an event to create a sense of brotherhood, selflessness, peace and sacrifice among the people. The celebration allow the people to rejoice themselves by leaving the routines which have made their life dull and boring/ They bring the people of different areas closer to create cultural harmony among them. Some of the festivals are religious and some are held to refresh the deeds of national heroes and political events.

Shab-e-Barat, a night of blessings, is celebrated on 14th Shabaan, 8th mointh of the Islamic calendar. The Muslims illuminate their houses and Masajid. Devotional prayers are performed throughout the night to seek the blessings of Allah.

After the fasting in the month of Ramadan the Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fiter on 1st of Shawal. Eid prayers, mostly on open fields are performed after sunrise. After the prayers the Muslims greet each other. They spend the whole day in feasting and rejoicing. .

Eid-ul-Azha is the greatest event when millions of Muslims throughout the world gather at Kaabah to bow before Allah at the time o f Hajj. Those who can't go there offer special prayers after the sunrise on 10th Zilhaj. After the prayers the Muslims greet one another and offer sacrifice of a goat, a sheep, a cow or a camel to honour the sacrifice of the Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). The meat is divided in three parts one for the family, second for the relations and third for the poor.

Eid Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated on 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, a birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWW). The buildings and bazaars are illuminated. Seminars are conducted to induce the devotees to follow the life of Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW). .

Some festivals are celebrated to refresh the memories of great saints. These are held at the shrines o f great saints. The Mela Chiraghan is held at the shrine of Hazrat Madhu Lal Hussain. The Urses of Bab Farid, Hazrat Data Gunj Bukhsh, Imam Bari, Saachal Sar Must and Abdul Latif Bhitai are held at the shrines o f these saints. People from far off places gather at the shrines to pay homage to the great saints. 

The day of the Pakistan Resolution (23rd of March 1940) and Independence Day (14th of August 1947) are the most remarkable days in the history of Pakistan. The nation as a whole celebrates these occasions every year to refresh the greatness of these events. They also give us the knowledge and information related to freedom movement of Pakistan and the sacrifices made by the leaders in getting a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia.

These festivals also provide the opportunities to the artisans to display their handicrafts, which depict their cultural heritage. They attract the tourists from all over the world. Lok Melas are also arranged alongwith these exhibitions to enable the people to develop a sense of brotherhood among themselves. They are necessary to keep the people united and to honour the social activities of the people of different areas.