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| The hostesses of the event. Left to Right: Shahida, Hania Shahid, Ittrat Bano and Ayesha Najeeb. |
March is observed as a month of festivity around the world. A great spirit of celebration prevails all across the globe. Events like, St. Patrick's day, Mardi Gras, Basant, Holi, jashan-e bahaar, etc, are observed in every corner of the Earth. To welcome the spring and to rejoice the short bonus of Nature. When flowers bloom, colouring the surroundings, filling the air with sweet fragrance.
Multan is no exception, when it comes to exuberance and merriment. Therefore, the city of saints remains busy in weddings and garden parties during this month. The atmosphere is specially filled with joyfulness and effervescence, throughout the spring.
The women of South Punjab have a tradition of their own, quite similar to holi. For the information of those who do not know. Whenever, a baby boy is born in a Seraiki family, the ladies from the family of the child's father, carry heaps of dry colours and visit the mother's family and celebrate by throwing colours on them and applying on the faces of their women. As expected, the members of the opposite party try their best to run around and escape this jubilant attack. But interestingly, it is an all women's show. No male members are allowed to step in.
And this is exactly what all the members of 'FMS committee' and 'friends of SOS' witnessed in their party for the month of March. When, on Wednesday 19th March Haniya Shahid Khokar arranged a superb 'rung' party in the spacious, well pruned, effulgent, backyard of her opulent house. Though, the reason to celebrate was the birth of spring.
Haniya Shahid (also well recognized by her maiden name, Haniya Tasneem Sultan) runs the 'friends of SOS' committee party and is also a member of FMS committee. And by chance, she had her turn in both the committees. So, she decided to throw one grand party and invite all the members together.
From SOS, she also had other partners as hosts of the party, which included, Mrs. Shahida Wadood, Ayesha Najeeb and Mrs. Ittrat Bano ( Mrs. Mujtaba Gillani, wife of the brother of former P.M. Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani).
Coming back to Haniya again. This extremely talented girl is a marvellous combination of scintillating beauty and exceptional intelligence. She is one of the few ladies of the city of saints, who possess great sense of style and are growing, younger, prettier, even more stunning every day.
Haniya remained topper and a distinction holder, throughout her academic life. Did her MBA from B.Z.U, Multan with flying colours. Had the honour of serving as Director of National Bank of Pakistan for four years, during previous government. And is also a constant, most regular, greatest support of SOS Village Multan. Being the daughter of Mrs. Jameeda Malik, a renowned educationalist of Multan, Haniya fully incorporates her teaching experience in smooth functioning of SOS Herman Gmeiner school, shoulder to shoulder with her dynamic friend Mahnaz Fareed. And thus is one of the most valued board members of both, SOS school & SOS village Multan.
Leave aside her skills at academics and banking. Let's return to her splendid home, which depicts her personality as a great home maker, superb wife and an excellent mother. Daniya and Adeena, both her daughters are following the footsteps of their brilliant mommy, by staying at the top in studies. Haniya's husband Mr. Shahid Naseem Khokar, is a distinguished industrialist and also served as the president, chamber of commerce, Multan.
Now, something about the party, the success story of which, has caught the city like a wildfire. All those, who were not there or failed to show up at the ocassion, missed the greatest event this spring.
From an artistically laid 'Rangoli', at the entrance to the backyard, which served as the party area, the entire place was decorated with colourful kites, oil lamps, flower arrangements and fairy lights. A sitting arrangement of atleast hundred women waited for the even greater number of the guests who turned out. Everyone knew, it was Haniya's party, it had to be good, rather going to be superb.
The guests were already informed to wear White clothes, with chunri dupattas and were also warned about the consequences, resulting from the use of dry powdered colours. As Haniya deliberately refrained from the use of liquids, as she did not want the ladies to return in clothes drenched in water. Anyway, almost everybody followed the dress code.
And as mentioned earlier, the party was organized in the backyard of the house. Whereas, the meals were served in the front lawn. No waiters or male servants were allowed in the party area, only female guests were served by housemaids. It allowed the guests to have a complete liberty of rejoicing, any way they liked.
Impressive sound system, with disco lights. Alongwith the Black light, which further enhanced White, added glow to every colour. But before the play of colours and music, a formal start, as is the tradition of SOS functions, took place.
After the recitation of holy Quran, Saadia Yaqoob held the mike and went on to describe all the ventures at the SOS front. Mahnaz Fareed also addressed the gathering and introduced Salma Aslam, a child of SOS, who has been selected for a three week program at 'Vienna International Christian-Islamic university'.
And then the drums rolled, the music burst out, Haniya along with her daughters and few other helpers from the party, making a train after each other, came running in the middle of the gathering, blowing dry powdered colours everywhere and on everyone. All the pretty ladies, glowing in White, were suddenly transformed into Martians and Aliens. Some turned Pink haired and some got faces gone Green. And it invited an unstoppable gaiety and frenzy. Some were running away to hide themselves behind beautifully pruned garden topiaries or in Haniya's lounge to keep their expensive White clothes from spoilage. And some simply jumped in the fun to enjoy the moment. Exchanging colours, painting faces, laughing, rejoicing, stepping up to the musical tunes. And the party went on.
The even more heartening delight was to see, the whole show coming to a temporary halt, during the call for Maghrib prayer. Women barged in the house for Waduh and the entire place appeared like a prayer ground. For the readers of this blog, this information may be surprising but Haniya is among those, who offer prayers five times a day and fasts in the name of Allah Almighty, almost on weekly basis. Another of the positives that she has.
Later, the fun began, where it was stopped temporarily. All the members, including the great grand mothers, grand mothers, mothers and newly married girls enjoyed as if it was some family wedding. Of all the seniors, Mrs. Yasmin Riaz turned out to be a great sport and she also mentioned, the did not enjoy as much at the wedding of her grand child, as she enjoyed at Haniya's party. Because it was only meant for ladies.
Finally the end, all the guests were taken to the front garden, which was transformed into a beautiful, open dinning area. And everybody enjoyed the variety of beautiful cuisine, which awaited them.
Anyway, Congratulations Haniya, Daniya and Adeena!! According to the writer/critic of this blog. This party was among best of the best. Let us see, if there is going to be anything better than this the whole year or not?
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| Haniya and Rameen in Tehnicolor. |
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| Hania's daughters Dania and Adeena, adding colour to their mom's party. |
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| Just arrived. Qamar, Rani and Uzma. |
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| People arrived looking so good and later, appeared so cute. The one and only Snow White of Multan, Saima Faisal. |
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| FMS Committee members. Farrah Saqib, Marium Farrukh, Dr. Huma Athar, |
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| Aunties enjoying the wonders of the next generation. |
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| Mahnaz Fareed presents Salma, the pride of SOS. |
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| Mrs. Safia Riaz Qureshi with Mrs. Buccha. |
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| Qamar, Mrs. Razia Shah and Mrs. Yasmin Riaz. |
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| Color everybody beautiful |
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| This is called having fun, Mahnaz Fareed Sheikh. |
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| Saira Nasir, Shazia Ishrat and Rubina Arshad. |
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| The frenzy. |
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| Shazia Fareed appears even prettier with this make-up. |
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| Mamoona Qasim, looking beautiful anyway. |
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| Mrs. Bucha, with Rabia Bosan. |
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| Who are these beautiful girls anyway? |
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| Rameen Anees had some fantastic time. Check out her hair braid and Paranda. |
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| Wajiha Hussnain, tell us what are you doing? |
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| Yours' truly, Fariha /Munir Shah, before and after the wild attack. |
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| We can do, what we want. Nobody would recognize us anyway with the colour on. Girls just wanna have some fun. |
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| The lovely, Bina Khwaja was late to arrive. |
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| A special pose for FarihaMunirShahTimes Mala, Rani and Yasmin |
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| Yeaaahhhh Cheese, the cheering at the end of it all. |
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| Luddi haey jamaalo. |
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| Sumera and Qamar with friends. |
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| Saadia Yaqoob and Dr. Amna Awan. |
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| Some just refused to wash their faces and some had them washed. From Left to Right, Fariha Munir, Zahra Bassat, Saima Faisal, Fareed, Ms. Khwaja. |
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| Rabia, Ms. Buccha, a guest & Mala Ahsan |
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| The Rangoli , laid with lamps, to welcome the guests at the entrance |
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| The beautiful decorations at the dinning area. Gol gappas, Jalebis and tiny gulab jamuns were great hits. |
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