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Eid from across the street
Piercing sounds of obnoxiously loud honking cars and shrill screams of overly excited children poured into my ears. Bright lights blinded me as I tried to make my way into the crowd. Nudging and...
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Do not be merciless this Eid, please!
Have Pakistanis forgotten the principle behind Eidul Azha? This supposed feast of sacrifice, popularly known as Bakra Eid in our nation, is where Muslims are meant to pay symbolic tribute to Prophet...
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This Eid, try these middle-eastern treats with a Pakistani twist!
Eidul Azha marks the remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s commitment to sacrifice his own son. Sacrifices aside, the thing we all look forward to most is the food and the endless BBQs that are sure to...
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Are you okay with sacrificing tortured animals on Eid?
Hello people. It’s been ages since I have written, but recently ET released a mini-story on Raja the sheep that made my blood run cold. Trigger warning for anyone who loves animals, but this is the sad...
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A father’s wish on Eidul Azha
Azhar stood at the bus stop, waiting for the bus to come. His eyes filled with tears and standing there in the heat of the scorching sun just made everything seem even more dismal. Before he could stop...
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Down memory lane: This Eid, enjoy my mother’s recipe of Mutton Dum Piyaza!
Each Eid reminds me of the happy times I spent celebrating Eid as a kid at my maternal grandparents’ house in Rawalpindi some 20 or more years ago. Funnily enough, it was the hustle and bustle the day...
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Tips to avoid indigestion on Eid
No matter how much we abhor red meat and how hard we try to avoid it all year round, Bakra Eid is the one day when belt buckles pop open, shirt sleeves are rolled up and we prepare ourselves for a day...
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18 memorable moments that define Bakra Eid in Pakistan
1. Wear new Eid clothes! Take photos of family looking like a cheesy ad [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: xcitefun.net[/caption] 2. Wake up early to go pray at the local mosque....
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From Houston to Karachi
As happens quite frequently now, my mind and heart tend to gravitate towards the next writing mission for the Karachi-Houston diaries. In fact, just the other day I thought to myself, “Perhaps you...
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Gullu Butt bakra, Raja the cow and our immature Pakistani media
The end of an Islamic year is marked by the performance of Hajj, an act of submission that Allah has allocated a huge reward for. Pilgrims from across the globe stand humbly before their Lord, seeking...
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Explaining Bakra Eid to a foreigner: “Why do you people sacrifice animals?”
Bakra Eid and ‘bari’ Eid are the two loving nicknames I used while referring to the feast of sacrifice all of my childhood that I spent in Pakistan, until I moved to the West and realised that people...
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Bored of the same ol’ bbq? Spice up your Eidul Azha with these mouth-watering...
Eidul Azha, more commonly known as Bakra Eid in Pakistan, is that time of the year when Muslims sacrifice cattle in the remembrance of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). But alas, the majority of the population here...
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If you think Eidul Azha in the US lacks spirit and tradition, you couldn’t be...
Born and raised in Pakistan, one can only imagine Eidul Azha being celebrated one way, with the sacrifice of an animal in the front or backyard, right? But there are other wonderful ways to celebrate...
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Are we carrying out Eidul Azha rituals the right way?
Emaciated bodies, their remains everywhere, blood flowing on already dirty streets across the city and the smell of freshly cut flesh – this is a glimpse of Karachi on the first day of Eidul Azha, aka...
View ArticleWith Zidane back on the sidelines, will Real Madrid make the most of the...
For much of the 2018-19 season, Real Madrid’s campaign has been driven by pessimism and trepidation. From mediocre performances on the field to a lack of purpose off it, the Los Blancos found...
View ArticleWhy is the US making a mountain out of the Masood Azhar molehill?
The United States has introduced a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution to blacklist Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. Azhar is the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (banned in Pakistan...
View ArticleKnock knock! Annabelle is coming home and things are about to get real scary
Following the Marvel path, The Conjuring universe has grown steadily over the last six years through both, the increasing returns that most films in the franchise have delivered and in stature through...
View ArticleIndia’s ‘Operation Isolation’ and the soft power of sports
“Our message is stronger than ever. Please stop the fighting. Please stop the killing. Please drop your guns.” Juan Antonio Samaranch, President International Olympic Committee speaking at the Winter...
View ArticleWhen khudkushi became her only freedom
The sky was a pool of black ink, dusted with stars at midnight. Arsh looked out from the window — she saw many little streets sprawled out below. She had only known these streets from inside the walls...
View ArticleIran and Iraq may not be tourist hot spots, but they offer a spiritual...
I was recently invited to a trip to Iran and Iraq by a group of close friends from Lahore, and as I had never been to these states before, I decided to take the opportunity to visit the shrines...
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