‘Festival means people from all religions coming together’

Begum Hamida Habibullah recounts Eid-ul-Azha celebrations in Hyderabad, Lucknow and Peshawar

LUCKNOW: Festival would mean khansamas (cooks) coming to the house from far-off places to serve the finest vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine to guests. The occasion would also be about selecting gifts for family, friends and employees, said Begum Hamida Habibullah, recounting the Eid-ul-Azha celebrations that she witnessed during the 99 years of her life.

Daughter of the chief justice of Hyderabad, the Begum has childhood memories of Eid celebrations in that city. And after her marriage with General Habibullah in 1938, the celebrations were held in Lucknow and Peshawar, where the General was posted during his service.

“In Hyderabad, the men of the family would go to greet the Nizam of Hyderabad and the meat of the sacrifice was sent to various households,” recalled Begum Habibullah.

But after she came to Lucknow, the celebrations changed to some extent. “In Hyderabad, women would dress up in sarees, but here we would wear the heavy gharara on festival days,” she recalled.

Chefs from Kakori and Saidanpur were called at the Habibullah Estate for festivals. “They would set up their stoves near the drawing room and

Every year on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, we offer namaz for unity and pray to the Almighty to keep us away from sins and bad things. BEGUM HAMIDA HABIBULLAH

kakori kebabs and other varieties were served to the guests. All taluqdars and prominent families would visit us,” she said.

Silver ‘itra daan’ and ‘paan daan’ used to be placed in the drawing room to greet guests while ‘qawwals’ and ‘mirasins’ sang greetings of Eid.

“Too much of non-vegetarian food around festivals, particularly Eid-ul-Azha, was exhausting and thus I would always prefer to add a good number of vegetarian varieties to the menu,” said Begum Habibullah.

Emphasising that festivals mean people from all religions coming together, Begum Habibullah recounted: “I remember an Eid Milan that was organised when I was into politics. Addressing the gathering, I said ‘Mehabe Vatan se Har Bashar Sarshar Ho Jaye.. Miley Jab Kausar Aur Ganga to Beda Paar ho Jae…”

The statement had a message of unity. “Till now, every year on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, we offer prayers for unity and pray to the Almighty to keep us away from sins and bad things,” she said.