Over 40 Pakistani married women came out at the instance of the Pakistan Women Association, Abuja (PWAA) to showcase their various cultural wares and raise funds for charity.
Items on display at a mini exhibition and symposium organized by the group include glass bangles, traditional sweets, henna, handicrafts and games, all made by these women.
Anila Adnan, an executive member of PWAA, who also took part in the organization of the event known as the, “Chaand Raat” said that the association though a tightly knit one had a lot to offer to the community it resides in and make a difference no matter how small.
Just around 8pm,many Pakistani women started trooping to the venue of the event, the Da Chimney restaurant in their different attires and saris.
The venue was decorated with special ointments, traditionally made lights surrounded the venue while flowing lights move on the swimming pool.
According to Adnan, the association felt that it was time to do something for the community they now live in by contributing their quota to social development.
Her words, “our community is not so open, and most of the times only men do programmes”.
She said the event was different because it was planned by an association which relates to women and family. She added that the event also gave them an opportunity to unwind and get to know each other better.
Speaking on the essence of the event, Adnan said that though the programme is the first of its kind, it was symbolic because it took place at a time when Muslims all around the world were rejoicing and celebrating after a whole month of fasting.
“This is the first programme we are doing, but earlier we had a little gathering where we collected money and distributed to the less privileged people, especially those in Borno State.
“We collected clothes, toys and every household item that we could lay our hands on which we know people would need and sent them to Borno. All those items were from the Pakistani community. We also distributed food to people in various mosques during the Ramadan period in Borno State”.
“So in the actual sense this is the third programme we are having, and we linked it to the sighting of the moon, ‘Chaand Raat’.
“This particular one is known as the Metihi, the sweet one, after the month of fasting, we all enjoy and rejoice. So the evening before the Sallah day, people come out of their houses with their families. We put lale or henna, wear bangles, eat sweets and buy new clothes”.
Mona Ishaq is also a member of the group, said eating sweets at their occasion is a thousand-year tradition of the Pakistanis, which has been passed down from generation to generation.
Standing behind different traditional sweets which she said were made by her, she added, “we, Pakistanis can boost of having over 100,000 types of sweets because we believe that every happy occasion must begin with something sweet”.
The association has eight members; Anila Adnan is an executive member while Momnah Saad, Hena Wsqas, Mona Anjum Ishaq, Irum Fahad, Rabia Ijaz, Julitette Awan and Hafsa Fahad are ordinary members.
Adnan said there are over 40 Pakistani families in the FCT.
“In this our community, we have over forty families or more but this event is not only for the Pakistani indigenes but for all families, the international community’s as well as the local ones and especially our Nigerian friends,” she said.
Hena Wsqas, another member of the group, adds that the event will provide a unique opportunity for the Pakistani community to share its rich culture with other communities.
“It’s an opportunity to mingle and share cultural values, while introducing our own culture to them. As you can see, we have on display bangles from Pakistan, which we had to bring in through the postal service,” she said.
The executive member of the association said, “the Pakistani Women Association Abuja actually came together to give more exposure to our ladies and to enable them to mingle with the local and international communities.
“We intend to hold symposiums, exhibitions and talks to enlighten our members. This event is an eye opener, you see most of our women do not work, they are housewives who stay at home to take care of the children. Most of them came together and made most of the products you see here which will be sold and the funds used for charity.
“Like I said earlier, the Pakistani community is an enclosed one, most of the men are not comfortable allowing their wives to go out, but they are a little relaxed and accommodating when they see these kind of women events.
“Actually I can say that this is the first time, these husbands have allowed their wives to participate in such a grand event. As you can see, they allowed them to put up stalls, cook food and sell them all for charity.
“In the actually sense of the matter, this is more like a community reunion and an opportunity for housewives to contribute their quota to social development in the places where they reside”.
The event had some henna specialists who were beautifying women with different designs on their hands and their feet.
One of the guests at the event, a Nigerian, who gave her name simply as Deborah, said the Pakistani community and the Northern part of Nigerian have a lot in common, adding, “I have attended a few marriages in the north and I saw the brides with beautiful henna designs just like what am seeing here now.
“The technique is beautiful and the fact that it can wash off in a couple of days makes it attractive to me. I will definitely try it and I understand the money is going to be used for charity.
“I like their saris. They are like the ones I see in the movies, but am not sure I will wear it, it’s too sexy. Their dresses are rather cool and the designs are unique in nature. I also bought a few of their bangles. They said they were hand-made and they come in different colors”.
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