As soon as the month of August begins, you’ll find the streets and houses in Pakistan glowing with green and white colour; the colour of Pakitan’s flag. Stalls that sell Pakistani flag badges, tee-shirts, banners and other green-and-white coloured accessories line up every corner of the country. Children are also seen getting the Pakistani colours painted on their faces with proud smiles showcasing their happiness and patriotism for the country.
14th August is a national holiday in Pakistan and delicious sweet and savoury dishes are cooked to celebrate the day. It’s wise to conduct online grocery shopping in Lahore, Islamabad or any other city before the actual day! Decide your menu beforehand so you can enjoy the day with full enthusiasm. Let’s dive a little into the history and also see how Pakistanis commemorate their Independence day!
How Did Pakistan Come into Being?
In the 1940s, the Indians decided it was time for the British to hand them their country back and started to organised movements for Independence. The Muslims realised that if Hindus came into power, being the majority, they would be treated poorly and will always be miserable. As a result, the All-India Muslim League was born to look after the interests of the Muslims. Soon, it was clear that the interests of Muslims could only be protected one way; by having a separate country for them. And thus, the struggle for an independent Muslim stat began. And on August 14, 1947, Pakistan under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born.
How is the Birthday of Pakistan Celebrated?
August 14 is a very special day for Pakistanis and is celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm. The government holds parades, air shows, cultural shows and fireworks. To honour Pakistan’s founding father, government official and dignitaries visit the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in Karachi, to pay their respects and make prayer for him. The national songs are sung in schools and colleges, and passionate speeches are given with patriotic students to highlight the importance of independence.
Poetry competitions and cricket matches are also held in communities on this day. The government buildings are bathed in green and white lights and portraits depicting the intense struggle for independence are displayed on buildings. It’s also common to see the youth put up bumper stickers on their bikes and cars during the month.
On the morning of the 14th, people like to have desi, Pakistani breakfast. Then they visit different places like the Sea View for Karachiets and Daman E Koh for Islamabadis with their families. People can be seen blasting patriotic songs from their vehicles, wave flags and scream Pakistan Zindabad everywhere.
As this day is celebrated enthusiastically, many people like to order in for lunch. If a picnic has been set up, then food is made a day before. Many families like to visit the zoo or cultural heritage museums on this day too.
Conclusion:
Pakistan came into being after a lot of sacrifices and struggles. While it’s fun to celebrate with loud music and fireworks, we should also remember why we are celebrating. We need to make promises (and keep them) to work for the betterment of our nation and country. Our country is our identity and thus, we need to protect it.
It should also be noted that during the COVID-19 time, we need to act as responsible citizens and not indulge in the usual festivities, and stay indoors. You can enjoy indoors too! Set up a good lunch or dinner setting, have your friends on call virtually and talk about why you are thankful for being a Pakistani, what can you do to improve the state of Pakistan, etc. And make sure to purchase your groceries from an online store like howmuch beforehand. The more you can avoid crowds, the better.
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