Hello Hive World, this is @mairaj.ansari from Karachi, Pakistan.
I often remember the days of my childhood, when boys, girls, and elders in the neighborhood were not only neighbors but family. Children woke up with each other, go to school together, play in the streets and even listen to the stories from neighbor’s grandmother at night. Food sharing was so common that the women living together not only presented to other, but others come to their homes asking for food if they had cooked something tastier LoLz. If the kids are not interested to eat dish made at home, they felt free to go to the neighbors and eat there.
Another interesting aspect of socializing as such was watching dramas together on TV. I mean having a color TV set at home was still a luxury back then in Pakistan. Most had black & white TVs. So, the one with Color TV had the pleasure of gatherings in their home when neighboring females come to their homes 8:00 PM at night, watch their favorite TV shows and the host even had to cook snacks for them. Mainly pop corns, pakoras etc.
The neighborhood was actually called “Mohallah” in our local language here in Pakistan and that Mohallah was considered pretty much a home for everyone living there. Children from other Mohallahs used to identify each other through it 😊. As we have already covered the TV, man! Other things were pretty common too. Iron, chairs, tables, cushions and even sheets were borrowed upon need and people didn’t hesitate at all. Food was sent to that home (having a Refrigerator) to store safely for the day.
Let’s go back a little and see from where the neighborhoods originated, and we learn that this is the very foundation of the society. People started living together for:
Safety in Numbers: Protection from wild animals and enemies. Resource Sharing: Food, tools, and knowledge were exchanged. Social Bonds: Emotional support, friendships, and family extensions created stability.
And many more aspects which I might not be able to cover in this post. With the passage of time, these neighborhoods scaled up to Towns, then City finally leading to a Nation. It gave people sense of belonging, social support, cultural growth and safety & security.
I must tell my fellow readers that Islam places great responsibility on Muslims towards their neighbors. We are taught to support, care for, and provide whenever our neighbors are in need. They are regarded more than relatives in most cases. Relatives may live across in the city and in other cities or countries, but neighbors, they are always near you. Therefore, our immense respect and support for them is a reflection of these teachings as well.
I wish that I had pictures of my old neighborhood, I would love to share it here. For now, I am sharing pics of inside my apartment,
Views right from my home's entrance
And this, from my balcony.
My days of roaming around the streets are gone, but I enjoy watching kids doing the same. Another very important thing which I would like to mention is, the impact of technology and social media. You see, we get very limited time now, even to sit and speak with family, friends. I was just thinking while taking these pictures, how many living around my home I know? Only a few. Socializing in neighborhoods has decreased a lot. I wish we all care for each other and keep the foundation of the society intact.
Thank you for reading my post. I would love to read your comments.
All pictures in this post belong to me and are my property