Eid to be celebrated with solemnity, simplicity today
By Aamir Sajjad

ISLAMABAD—The Eid this year will be marked with solemnity and simplicity to show solidarity with those whose lives were devastated in the October 8 earthquake.
Every year the end of Ramazan is celebrated with great enthusiasm, but this year Eid will be sombre as our hearts go out for over 73,000 people of Muzaffarabad, Balakot, Alai and various other districts of AJK and NWFP, who left this world for their eternal abode on October 8.
There are hundreds and thousands who were left injured — some of them maimed for life — and admitted in hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Others are lodged in mobile hospitals.
Those who managed to survive the earthquake, have been rendered homeless and are living out in the open or in tents as their houses were reduced to rubble within seconds when the earth shook violently on that fateful Saturday.
The pictures on television channels had shown what befell these people on October 8 but the emotional scars and trauma that they are going through can be left for one to imagine. It cannot be described in words.
They had never thought they will spend their eid in such a manner. Their traditional joys   and celebrations attached with Eid are gone with the loved ones who could not survive the earthquake.
Some of them still have their kith and kin buried under the rubble of houses and waiting for some messiah to atleast recover them and help them bury the dead.
“How can we celebrate Eid when a good part of Pakistan is in mourning. Is it not the time to bow before Allah Almighty and seek forgiveness for our sins and thank Him from saving us from His wrath,” said a social worker.
“We must pray for all those who lost their lives and help the survivors and the injured with all our generosity. This will not bring the dead back, but will provide some succour to the victims in this trying time,” he said.
The President and the Prime Minister have aptly represented the feelings of every Pakistani when they urged the nation to contribute towards the earthquake victims and celebrate Eid with simplicity.
Overall it is a common feeling that this particular Eid calls to rekindle the spirit of sacrifice and help these victims of earthquake in whatever way one can.
“We celebrate Eid with great festivity every year but this year it should be different — it should be sombre — just to let them know that we as a nation are with them and that we care for them,” said a school teacher who volunteered in the relief efforts in Muzaffarabad.
Special Dua will be offered after Eid prayers for the victims of the earthquake.
A large number of NGOs, social and volunteer organizations have made arrangements to send Eid gifts to the relief camps in the twin cities and the affected areas.
Special `Eidee’ will be given to the children who are injured and admitted in hospitals.