Most Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, their country's Independence Day, with fun and fanfare: barbecues, family get togethers, picnics, and of course, fireworks.
While many Pak-Americans take advantage of the holiday to celebrate the country of their birth or adoption (not to mention get a day off from work), one month later, they are usually oblivious to Pakistan's Independence Day on August 14.
While many Pakistanis take Pakistan for granted. They don't realize the blood, sweat and tears, literally, that it took to bring about the country's establishment. By holding an August 14th Pakistan Family Day in your home, you can share the struggle of these Muslims', in most cases your parents and/or grandparents, who made the trek from India to Pakistan.
you may not get a day of work for August 14th and you may not see the fireworks that bedazzle spectators on July 4th all across America, but you can make your own small Pakistan Independence Day celebration at home with some of these ideas.
1. Yes, you can have a barbecue - Pakistani style. Shami kababs, Behari kababs, chicken Tikka, and other mouth watering delicacies can grace your grill on this momentous occasion. This activity can double up as an independence day picnic for the whole family at a local park so the young and old can enjoy themselves.
2. If you're not really in the mood for cooking over a hot grill in the heat of August, take the family out to a local Pakistani restaurant. Ask if the restaurant has any August 14th specials. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Try to sample as much as you can without overeating. If the food and service pass muster, give a generous tip, grab some business cards on your way out and become the restaurant's unofficial spokesperson amongst your family and friends.
3. In a well-thought out and planned presentation, explain the significance of August 14. You should answer some of these basic questions: why is August 14 important for Pakistan? What did this date mean for millions of Muslims living in India? How did the Muslims mobilize their resources for the Pakistan movement so that August 14 became a reality?
Use pictures and other visual aids to maintain audience interest. You can show photographs of relatives who were involved in the Pakistan movement or share newspaper clippings about the events on that date, for example.
4. Invite someone who was there on August 14, 1947
If you have a parent or grandparent who was alive on August 14, 1947, invite them and let them share their personal story. Ask them to recount what life was like as a young person in 1947, how they migrated to Pakistan and what it felt like witnessing independence.
If they were too young to remember that, ask them about their years growing up in Pakistan, when the country was first being established. What challenges did they face? How did they take care of their basic needs? What kinds of things did kids do to pass the time?
5. Check out some virtual fireworks
What is a national holiday without fireworks? While you probably won't succeed in getting your local city council to organize a green and white fireworks display for Pakistan's Independence, you can still enjoy this patriotic pastime by going online. Check out these sites for virtual fireworks:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links . Click Here To Register]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links . Click Here To Register]
6. Organize a Pakistan day family variety show
A family variety show showcasing everyone's talent for something Pakistani can be a fun and educational experience. It requires preparation beforehand, but some spontaneous elements can also be brought in at the last minute (i.e. stand up comedy in Urdu)>
Get the children to sing the Pakistani national anthem and a patriotic song; for the poetic, a presentation of one of Muhammad Iqbal's poems calling for the establishment of Pakistan, along with its English translation and explanation. The ideas are virtually endless, but this can be a great way to keep Pakistani culture alive while being a bonding experience for the whole family.
7. Watch a video about Pakistan
Check out your local library or video rental store for something about Pakistan's history, culture or geography. It could be a travel video, or it could even be one that focuses on the world's second highest mountain: K2, located, where else, in Pakistan.
If you don't find much, this can also become a family project: getting more books and video documentaries about Pakistan into your local and school libraries and video stores.
8. Urdu for today
Try to get the whole family to speak only Urdu for the day. One rule of thumb though: nobody is allowed to mock anyone else's Urdu accent (or lack of it). This could be starting point to more Urdu conversation in your home.
9. Mango treasure hunt
This is kind of cheesy but fun. Buy a crate of mangoes (Pakistan's unofficial fruit) and if you have a large enough backyard, hide them in different places. The person who finds the most mangoes doesn't only get to eat them, but also gets a prize.
10. Flag your vehicle
Get a whole bunch of small Pakistani flags (you can easily make them with some construction paper, markers and a stick) and plaster your car, bike or motorcycle with them for the day. Or, if you'd rather not cramp your style this way, a single, medium-sized flag of Pakistan tied carefully to your car's antenna or bike's handle could also remind you of the occasion throughout the day.
11. Have a quiz game
Test everyone's knowledge of all aspects of Pakistan with a quiz game. Gather questions and answers about geography, history, economy, politics, and more. Once you've got everything, get one person to be the emcee. Include prizes for winners and post all questions and answers after the game on a board on the fridge so everyone can keep learning.
11. Send a donation to Pakistan
Write out a check on behalf of the whole family to your local charity that's doing work in Pakistan (like HDF). Send a card with it signed by all family members.
12. Catch the action in Pakistan with your relatives
Call or e-mail your relatives back home and se how they're spending August 14 (they've probably got the day off). Ask them what they're planning to do on Independence Day and give a quick rundown of your schedule. Maybe you can encourage them to do some of the activities you've got planned (especially donating to a charity and having the household's elders share stories of Pakistan's past).
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Celebrate next August 14 with your Family
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