Halloween in Pakistan, should it be encouraged or frowned upon?

Halloween in Pakistan, should it be encouraged or frowned upon?

Developing nations often suffer from being stuck in the middle of holding on to their own culture and that which comes with globalisation. To get into that particular discussion, one needs plenty of time and an open mind for such a broad topic.

Yet, if we were to take the case of Pakistan and Halloween, which is just a few days away, the relatively fresh sentiments and opinions would be a more suitable talking point.

Halloween may be celebrated in the west for whatever reason; it may be the month where the most deaths are recorded, it may be the night the gates of Hell are opened and demons come out to play, it may be the night when the dead leave their graves to wander
the Earth or it may even be a conspiracy by the dentists of olden times in the hopes of getting more customers…or patients as they call them.

Whatever the reason, Halloween has made its way to Pakistan in almost eerie manner. Events management companies throughout the country have arranged their own Halloween parties, while a number of institutions ranging from schools to universities are arranging
their own get togethers as well.

It seems that there is demand in Pakistan for such an event, yet is dressing up in costumes and partying exactly something that the country should be indulging in?

Well, yes and no. Firstly, let us discuss the negative aspects of what this event brings. Halloween is mostly celebrated by the younger demographic and teenagers as well. However, the entire premise is based around dressing up in costumes and going out in
the neighbourhood collecting candy, chocolates and sweets.

In Pakistan, that is not the case. True the costume bit exists, but the concept of Trick or Treating is lost on both the neighbours as well as those who claim to be ‘celebrating’ the event, without actually partaking in the activities which make it what
it is.

But that in itself is not enough to shun the occasion and frown on it, yet there are a few things that are.

More to follow in the next part of this article…

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=1872

Posted by Musa Afridi on Oct 28 2011. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry