Growing unrest, tribal feuds and increasing incidents of targetted killings have overshadowed Eid celebrations during the last decade in Balochistan in general and Quetta city in particular. Worsening law and order has severely affected Eid celebrations in Dera Bugti, Kohlu, the Mekran belt and other Baloch dominated areas of Balochistan.
Tribal disputes have further compounded the problems of the people and the majority of them prefer to celebrate Eid along with their families, and that too within the four walls of their homes. At the same time, increasing poverty, unemployment and inflation has also adversely affected such traditional events.
In Quetta, streets and roads give a deserted look since most of the people leave for their native towns on the eve of Eid. Those who remain are forced to stay confined to their homes due to the law and order situation. However, in the suburbs, such as Pashtoonabad, Nawa Killi, Kuchlak, Kharotabad and Sariab, people gather for the three days of Eid and take part in traditional celebrations. In Quetta city, children may gather in the streets to take camel rides.
The main commercial area of the city gives a deserted look after Eid since the majority of the shopkeepers, who are ethnic Pashtoons, spend around two weeks in their hometowns. However, traditionally, in Quetta, citizens, especially women, throng cosmetic, clothes and shoe centres to buy Eid gifts. Chand Raat is considered a special occasion for the female segment of the city as they go to Choori Galli to buy bangles. Their shopping continues till the early hours of the morning.
Balochistan is divided into two cultural groups Baloch and Pashtoons. One can see greater festivities among the Pashtoon dominated northern parts of Balochistan where sport and cultural events, dance parties, carnivals and melas and all kinds of functions are organised for people to gather and enjoy themselves.
Unlike other parts of the country, fierce tribesmen in Chaman, Zhob, Pishin and Gulistan, bordering neighbouring Afghanistan, enjoy Eid festivities for almost two weeks. People visit each other on the eve of Eid and share the joy.
Under tribal values and norms, people are bound to celebrate Eid in a traditional manner by inviting relatives for dinner and lunch.
The majority of the people in the aforesaid areas visit troubled Afghan provinces of Kandahar, Helmand and Nimroze to meet their relatives living on the other side of the border. In Pishin and Gulistan, villagers dance to the beat of drums during Eid celebrations and music programmes are held throughout the night.
Before the spill over of the Afghan war in this region, such festivals were very popular and thousands of people attended them with great fervour. People from Quetta and other parts of the province used to take their children and go to places where cultural festivals were organised. Many would stay there for several nights to enjoy the festivities.
But after the Afghan civil war and the surge of militancy and religious fanaticism, very few festivals are organised for fear of attack by extremists.
The centuries old Gulistan Mela, where well known Pashto singers participated from across southern Afghanistan, has not been held for the last three decades as a result of feuds between warring tribes.
To sum up, ongoing political insurgency, extremist militancy, growing poverty, unemployment and inflation have stolen the small joys and pleasures of the people who have no option other than to celebrate Eid in a qsuiet and simple manner.
