Religion

The Right Essence

The main act of performing Namaz on the day of Eid
Photo credit: www.xcitefun.net

As the night is lighted by the appearance of the half moon and Eid takbirah are chanted in the mosques, the minds and hearts of the Muslims around the world are filled with happiness and excitement of celebrating Eid ul Fitr (A religious festival)

While Eid is celebrated by the people in a worldly fashion, like buying new clothes, decorating their homes and arranging get together for friends and family. The entire essence of Eid lies in its importance, the roots of which lie in the Religion.

As knowledge is power and forever becomes a person’s asset, it can’t be lost nor snatched away. It stays till the end. Therefore, a teacher is always respected and the gaining of knowledge is celebrated.

Religious festivals are celebrated as they are moments that have passed, teaching people about something. In the same way, Eid ul Fitar is celebrated by the Muslim as it taught people the importance of sacrificing and to develop the art of giving and sharing with our family, friends and the less fortunate.

“More than celebrating a festival, it is important for me to teach my kids about the true essence of the festival and tell them about the teachings. It is not restricted to only Eid or Muslim religions, but I believe in teaching my children everything that would benefit them in the future.” says Tasneem Hannan, a Teacher and a Mother of two.

When we make rounds on the streets of Dubai, wherein Islam is the main religion, we can’t miss the smiles, cheers, hugs and the greetings that are given to each other. But even though there is too much chaos, the Azan would never get missed by any. The first word of Azan would mark the Muslims walking towards the mosque leaving everything else in the world.

“The call towards Allah is important than all the others, if I hear the Azan even if it’s Eid or any other function, I can’t miss it. It’s a sign of respect to answer at once when an elder calls upon us. So is it with the Azan.” says Mustafa Ali, a business man.

The best part of religious celebrations is that they are a perfect mix of both the religion and the worldly pursuits. Even if we spend a majority of our time shopping, decorating, preparations and parties, but when the time arrives, everyone is at their foot to come together to pray.

A prayer is a simple thanks to God who has made the world and slowly gives us signs showing how to lead it rightly. While the moral values are ingrained in our hearts and minds we need someone to remind them to us which happens every year in form of festivals and celebrations rekindling the story behind them.

LOCAL

The Nationalistic Feeling

The spirirt of patriotism
Picture credit: Nafisa Zaki

Thirty eight years ago, a man with an amazing foresight, united seven emirates into one big nation called the United Arab Emirates. Though it looked like the only opportunity to curb the misuse of itself by the other world nations, no one could have imagined what this unification actually meant.

It just took 3 decades for this nation to become one of the most desirable places to live in and for tourists to explore. The typical Bedouin life of the citizens of the desert has now completely changed to the high standard of living and enjoying the luxuries of modern world.

Though climatically, UAE is not very fertile as the desert sand, the hot weather, the uncertain storms are not very suitable for the vegetation. But still today, there is not a corner which is not green. Not having any natural resource big enough to attract the tourist nor having a very flattering climatic condition. UAE itself made a charm of its own which is capable of attracting tourist from all over.

Three decades is not a very long time to change the entire way of living of the people, of changing the city, or having plantations in deserts. But the trust of Sheikh Zayed on his country and its citizens both locals and the expats has now bloomed to become a beautiful nation in the desert.

“It has been more than 20 yrs since I am living in Dubai. In the course of which though I felt like an outsider at instances. But still the conditions have never been so bad that I leave UAE. I feel safest here and this is my country. The National Day every year reminds me of the state of this nation when I first came here and how quickly it has developed now when I see it. I mark all the milestones of UAE that happens every year. The same way we would count for our baby.” says Mr. Mansoor, A business man.

Mr Marvin celebrating National day.
Photoi credit: Nafisa Zaki

“I can’t believe it’s been 38 yrs and we already have the largest fountain, the largest book store, the biggest metro station, the longest tower, the enormous man made islands, the big candy shop etc. we have everything I would not have imagined being here when I first came in. the National Day always brings in a feeling of pride in me, I always decorate my home before the onset of 2nd December” says Mr. Marvin, a waiter.

This year the National Day had brought in sad news of the big recession that hit Dubai which gives out the message that development at a very fast rate is not good, there needs to be a time where we need to wait and think. It’s expected that a lot of people might want to go away in search for greener pastures in different countries.

“The news has brought in a very sad feeling amongst many but the idea of leaving and going is still not very bright for me. We came to UAE when we were in need. It became our home and fulfilled dreams that we were scared to see. The National day brings out a feeling of patriotism in me making me show my gratitude towards it.” says Rajat Sharma, an accountant.

“I always miss my own country, I miss my family and relatives there, my childhood palces but still if I go back from here I will miss UAE much more, I have made new friends in here, we have stayed so united with each other that we all have become much more than family. I feel very happy as people have only one country to call it theirs but I have two countries which are my own and two days to celebrate their development.” says Ms. Fatima Husain, an Indian Student.

The decoration for national day at the Abra
Photo credit: Nafisa Zaki

After my quest for finding out the expatriates feeling for the National day, what I myself found out that even though this is the most selfish generation ever, but humanity can never cease and so everybody has a connection towards what they benefit from and realize the importance of things in their lives. Though people don’t show it often but they do care.

TRENDS

The changing trends

Mr Afzal Pasha at his workshop
Photo credit: Nafisa Zaki

"As the days pass people get richer, the dresses get smaller and tighter" says Mr. Afzal Pasha, a designer and tailor of his own accord. The shop he works in is full of colors and designs of different clothing items which are waiting for their wearers to collect them.

Talking about the change in fashion from the past till now Mr. Afzal's views on it are that at past the normal public would prefer loose and much exaggerated styles but now the trend has become tighter and much more decent styles.

"Today, everybody is a stylist and everything is fashion" says Mr. Afzal who is from Bangalore and started his career in Bombay wherein he would serve tea in all the tailoring shops around the tea stall. The smiles and the look of contentment on the tailor's face motivated him to learn their skill.

Mr. Afzal Pasha showcasing his design
Photo credit: Nafisa Zaki

The idea of having to design dresses that people wear and that the people showcase their creativity with so much of pride is something that makes him happy and smile for the first time during the course of the interview.

When asked about his specialty and his idea of styling he says that he loved the suits that Mr. Prabhudeva, a Tamilian Actor wore in his first film. He copied many of those dresses for his customers which started gaining him more customers and made him popular in his area.

Fashion according to him can not be termed; it's always changing and ever evolving. But it gets better every day, world doesn’t stop and so doesn’t fashion. There has not been a time in life where I could have stopped and said this is it.

A few meters apart from where Mr. Afzal works, I came across Sheikh Kamruddin Jahir Ali who was standing very confidently in his shop called Vanity Fashions. As the most expensive resource is time, his generosity made him give me some of his.

Sheikh Kamrudding at his shop
Photo credit: Nafisa Zaki

Sheikh Kamruddin, the winner of various awards and certificates that recognizes his styles and designs, Proudly stands in the counter but stays busy enough to answer others who work under him. According to him the trends in fashion has changed from before in a very elaborate way. People wear what they are comfortable in.

"True fashion is what the people are comfortable in, as when they comfortable in it they carry it well and that becomes their style and fashion that suits them" says Shk. Kamruddin.

Sheikh Kamruddin showcasing his designs
Photo credit: Nafisa Zaki

He is from Bombay and is working in the same shop for 25 years and has full freedom to design what he wants. His designs are all over the market but they are all exclusive and made only once.

Apart from everything, one thing I noticed is that recession never hits creativity. According to Shk. Kamruddin. His orders are booked over the year. A dress that comes to him is only ready the next year. He says "When your work is good and you do it with all your heart however poor or helpless you might be. But no body can stop you from being successful."

Going through the work for this assignment one thing I learned is the secret to success and how to avoid situations that people are scared of the most.

SOCIETY

UNITY IN DIVERSITY!

In today's world, internet friends though being miles away are closer than colleagues who we see everyday. This fact is true in almost every case but not in the new Kuwaiti building where neighbors form stronger bonds than their own relatives.

The new Kuwaiti building stands in the buzzing street of Naif Road. It is a perfect location for the shoppers and for those who would like to see a very vibrant side of Dubai. A few minutes walk towards the right from the building, we could see the largest market of furniture, curtains, carpets and apart from these the very famous Naif Souq, which is known to be the oldest market of Dubai.

"My reason of renting a flat in this building was because I loved the location. If you want anything in the world the only thing you have to do is go down and you get an entire range of beauty parlors, super markets, shops, furniture, clothes etc. and, the area is so lively that you can never feel lonely at my house." says Mrs. Najma Khatib, a house maker.

Apart from the facilities provided at every nook and corner of the area like the recycling bins, phone booths, Dubai map, bus stops and also metro station. The best part of the building is the beautiful view that you could enjoy on the other side of the road.

"The Futtaim Villa that is just opposite the building has a beautiful and long garden, it is a home to various species of birds who we can hear chirping every morning and big trees. This view is seen from our balcony itself." says Dr. Kurien a dentist.

When we first set our foot in this house we were in love with its locality and the fact that the building was new. But as we started living the reason to be attached to the house were the neighbors that we got.

Eid, Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Independence day, be it any we all have celebrated it together. Everyday the kids from different nationalities, the Filipinos, Sri Lankan, Ethopian and Indian all come together to play and have a time of their life.

"During Eid's its like a havoc in here, right after the morning prayers all the kids visit the houses in a large group to collect their eidies and the grand lunch is done at our neighbors house. Till the third day of the Eid all the neighbors plan out to go for an outing. It is a lot of fun and we can not think of any of our Eid being lonely." says Mrs. Rashida Akolawala, a House Maker

The children of the building all come together and organize small parties and outing at cinemas during certain functions. Like the Independence Day of both Pakistan and India is celebrated together. This keeps alive the nationalistic feeling in them and also unites them and gives a message that we all need to live in peace.

Apart from the functions, the message the entire neighborhood shares is be it thick or thin, happy or sad we all have to live together and support each other.

"We have seen marriages, birthdays, death, and accidents. We all families go through something or the other but the entire neighborhood remains untied in whatever they do." says Mrs. Rehana Zaki, a House Maker.