Poor state of cleanliness in graveyards

Rawalpindi: This year too, most of the graveyards particularly in congested areas of town were not in ideal state of cleanliness on Eid days instead the visitors witnessed heaps of garbage in and around almost all graveyards particularly in city areas.

It is important that in Pakistan, it is a tradition to visit graveyards on the festive occasion of Eid to offer ‘fateha’ on the graves of their dear-ones. Soon after Fajr prayers on the first day of Eid, on Saturday, almost all graveyards were filled with visitors of whom many were witnessed complaining of the poor state of cleanliness in graveyards.

The heavy rainfall in the evening on Friday adding fuel to the fire made the situation worse turning the soil in graveyards into filthy mud that was irritating for those who visited there Saturday morning to offer ‘fateha’ on the graves of their loved ones.

It is worth mentioning here that a number of employees of Rawalpindi Waste Management Company were witnessed busy in removing filth and garbage at the time of dawn on Eid day in the city areas but from outside graveyards only and a little attention was given to cleanliness inside the graveyards.

The graveyards in town are neither clean nor organized and for the last many years, the graveyards and their surroundings are becoming more and more filthy, said a visitor to Qadeem Qabristan in Dhoke Elahi Buksh while talking to ‘The News’.

According to many visitors in Jadeed and Qadeem Qabristan in Dhoke Khabba area, the heaps of garbage in and around graveyards are because of the ignorance of concerned authorities and residents as well because nobody is raising voice for cleanliness of graveyards in town.

Our correspondent adds: As a religious ritual, people went to local graveyards during Eid holidays in large numbers to pay respects to their departed relatives.

Among the cemeteries, which attracted large crowds, were those of H-8, H-11 and Golra in Islamabad and of New Katarian, Dhoke Ratta, Asghar Mall and Bakra Mandi in Rawalpindi.

The visitors swept and moistened graves, sprinkled rose petals and scented water over them, lit incense sticks atop, and pulled weeds out of the surroundings. Repairs to broken graves were also done.

They later offered feteha and recited verses from the Holy Quran to seek salvation of the dead from the Almighty Allah.

The cemeteries were mostly visited by men and children. However, some women were also seen.

Some visitors got so emotional that they cried aloud remembering the dear departed, while others sobbed uncontrollably with those accompanying them comforting them.

Sellers of flowers, especially roses and rose petals, reported high sales during Eid days. However, visitors complained florists made unfairly large profits at will.

Philanthropists served food and sherbet to visitors outside graveyards.