Press ReleasesOn Pakistan-Afghanistan Border, Radio Special Features Women's Views on Eid
(November 16, 2005) A special edition of Da Pulay Poray (“On the Borderline”), a production of Internews’ Pakistan-Afghanistan Cross Border Training and Information Exchange, was aired in early November to mark the festival of Eid, which is celebrated by Muslims at the end of Ramadan. During one segment of the radio program women spoke about gender differences in the celebration of the holiday. “What sort of Eid are women going to have?” asked one woman named Fauzia. “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 enabling us to go anywhere and make our own celebrations.” It was a frank expression of women’s views which have been heard too little in this part of the world and which Da Pulay Poray will continue to enable women to articulate. (See the full transcript of the “Women and Eid” report) Another segment of the program discussed the use of the Eidgah, a large, medieval mosque-type structure, usually situated outside the main city, where prayers to mark the Eid festivals are held. Traditionally, all male inhabitants of the city would leave the city to pray in these special Eidgahs but in recent times, with burgeoning populations and mosques situated in every side street, the practice of praying in these special Eidgahs has fallen into abeyance. The report dealt with recent efforts to revive the use of Eidgahs. The effects of the Afghan diaspora was lamented in another report. “In the old days, we used to have big hujrahs – special portions of the house reserved for guests. Elders used to be sitting there, and youngsters used to come along and congratulate their elders on the advent of Eid,” said Shahzima. “Nowadays, where are our elders and where are our youngsters? One is here in the country, another is abroad.” Da Pulay Poray broadcasts on independent stations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The program covers a range of issues affecting the border regions and emphasizes co-operation, harmony, and peaceful co-existence between people on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border. It is funded by the United States Department of State.FOR MORE INFORMATION: John Butt, Internews Pakistan-Afghanistan Cross Border Training and Information Exchange Director |
|
||
