First interviewee: My name is Shadira. Our Eid is passing very well. We make new clothes for our children. The thing is, we are busy doing whatever we can for our children.

Second interviewee: My name is Asma. Our Eid is passing very nicely. We are just sitting at home. We have got lots of jobs. We have sewed clothes for our children, and we enjoy getting our children to wear them.

(Music rises for a few seconds)

Third interviewee: I am Fauzia. Our Eid is passing in this way - we have no father - so no one takes responsibility for our well-being. No one cares about how we are, or asks us to come to their house and join in their happiness. We are sitting in our own home. We cannot go outside, to our neighbours’ or to anyone else’s house to celebrate. So we are just sitting at home, cleaning our own house - that’s it.

(Music rises for a few seconds: “It was a wonderful month of fasting; now congratulations on your happiness”)

Fourth interviewee: I am Shakila. My Eid - you know, I just have a small son. He is not able to earn anything, and bring it home with him. I have no man. My man is dead. I sew, and we make a living for ourselves in this way. May God Almighty grant me faith. May God give me a good life in the next world. This world is not going to last.

(Flurry of music)

Fifth interviewee: It is passing, whether I like it or not. What can I do? I have no children. I am all on my own. My husband has married two wives. There is no share for me. Day turns to night - that is all.

(Music rises)

Sonia: What do you say, whose Eid is better, men’s or women’s?

Shadira: Men’s Eid is better. Our Eid passes at home, that is all. As for men, they go outside, then they come home. Their guests come and see them. Sometimes they make one request of us, sometimes another. Women are never free of their work in the kitchen.

Asma: Men’s Eid is better from this point of view that they put on new clothes and go out to see their friends, and go to fairs and things like that. Women are very restricted in their movements. No one takes us to fairs - the conditions there are not suitable for women. Sometimes thefts take place at fairs: it is out of the question for young girls to go there. Older women are able to take young children there, buy something and then return.

Another woman: Men’s Eid is better, they say their Eid prayers. They go to the mosque. They say their prayers, then they come back home. We cannot even leave the home. Whether we like it or not, we are women and have to stay put. What do we have to be happy about? What do you think Eid is like for women?

Another woman: I can’t really say anything in this regard. Women have their own Eid, and men have their own Eid. But men’s Eid is good, in that they take a stroll outside. Whichever woman is permitted by their menfolk to take a walk outside, then they are able to do.

Asma: We say our Eid prayers, then I go to my mother-in-law and father-in-law’s house, no one pays much attention to us, and no one takes us anywhere in particular.

Fauzia: What sort of Eid are women going to have? They sit inside, and do housework. Even on Eid day, they have lots of work. Men don’t say anything to help. There is no custom that we should go anywhere, and express our happiness.

Sonia: Do you have any complaints from your menfolk?

Asma: Why not? We do, because they do not allow us to go to the bazaar, to go and buy something according to our own taste. They just bring something which catches their own fancy - some bangles or something like that - they do not pay much attention to what makes us happy.

(Chorus of music)

Another woman: No, we would not like to have any complaints. We accept whatever life they choose. We go along with them.

Another woman: We are thankful. May God help us to spend a happy and prosperous Eid!

Sonia: On Eid day, you are working all day in the house, so how do you celebrate Eid?

Another woman: We celebrate it by our menfolk celebrating it. So long as they are happy, we are happy along with them.

Another woman: On the first day of Eid, we sweep the floor and clean the house, then relatives come to wish us a Happy Eid. What other celebration is there for us? We are sitting indoors the whole time.

Another woman: No, you are wrong, we do our housework, but we also go to pay respects to our dead, and we go to other people’s houses, also. It is not as if we are always trapped in our housework - come on! May God enable us to spend our time in the happiest possible way!

(Chorus of music: “Happy greetings, and may your efforts prosper!”)

Sonia: Tell me...........?

Old woman: You must promise not to show me on television! (Laughter)

Sonia: No, no! This is not for television.

Another woman: But doesn’t it talk?

(Flurry of instrumental music)

Sonia: So what can happen, to enable you to celebrate Eid with the utmost happiness?

Another woman: Whoever does not ask his wife, can we bring you anything, or would you like to come or go anywhere - it is obligatory for them to ask their wife these things.

One young woman: My man is not like that. (Laughing) He gives me his full attention!

(Music rises for a few seconds)

Young woman: A woman’s Eid is better, in that she is able to take full joy in her children. And if a woman is very happy with her husband, then she spends a very joyful Eid. (Flurry of music) A woman wears very beautiful clothes, and she also puts henna on her hands (flush of laughter), wears bangles - she makes everything about her look very beautiful. So men’s Eid is not as wonderful as women’s - everything about a woman is very beautiful at this time.

(Music rises and fades)

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