Achi news desk-
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint News / Pakistan Point – 25th Mar, 2024 ) The centuries old tradition of Drum beater waking up people for Sehri is still alive even in the Federal capital Islamabad.
For centuries, most people would wake up to the loud drum beats in the wee hours that marked the beginning of Sehri time during Ramazan. However, with modern technology, this tradition has declined but is still kept alive by drummers like Faqeer Hussain.
Faqeer Hussain is still beating the drum in Sehri and waking up the people in sector G-7, Islamabad.
Speaking to APP he said “I feel very happy to wake up the people. I have never enjoyed any other event like this and felt like I was doing a religious activity. “I’m not doing this duty for cash but I’m only doing it for the future,” he added.
“It’s not a fact that people in my area don’t have modern equipment, they do, but they want to keep this custom alive,” he added.
The drummers visit various streets, usually around 3 to 4 AM. Most of the time, he calls loudly, “Utho rozay daro” and ensures that the thunderous beat of his drum along with his slogans is loud enough to wake up the residents of a particular area.
Those who perform this duty during the Ramazan, go from house to house to receive their reward at the end of the holy month. The local people donate cash, clothes and rations of their free will, which helps them celebrate Eidul Fitr better.
Professor Chaudhry Rasheed Sal told APP that due to the use of advanced technology, the tradition of waking people up on sehri has changed as most people now use alarms and digital clocks to wake up for Sehri.
However, he said that keeping alive, centuries-old traditions is a very positive activity and should be encouraged, adding that all these traditions make our country more beautiful. He said that although people have modern devices to help them wake up, they want to keep the tradition alive and encourage the ‘dhol wala’.
In some areas, Qawwali performers are also seen in action visits from one street to another shortly after Iftar or before Iftar.
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