Written by: Farheen Abdullah
Posted on: December 27, 2019 | 
| 中文
TDF Ghar WInter Fest Day 1
The month of December brings both cold winds and warm, bright festivities. To keep the December spirit of celebration alive, TDF Ghar organized its first Winter Fest. Running from 25th to 27th December, the Fest features a collection of unique events over three nights.
The rooftop of the Ghar had been decorated with cushions and multi-colored lights for an intimate but vibrant festival. The decorations tie in with the ever-green heart facing the Quaid’s Mausoleum. A small Christmas tree also sat on the ground floor to commemorate the Christmas spirit in Karachi.
To kick start the Fest, TDF Ghar invited Asma Mundrawala and Shama Askari from Zambeel Dramatic Readings. Founded by Asma, Mahvash Faruqi, and Saife Hasan in 2011, Zambeel Dramatic Readings aims to present both Urdu and English texts, rendered in a dramatized form. Through their performance, they create a dynamic collusion between literature and theatre. The piece that the group chose to perform on Jinnah’s birthday was Saadat Hasan Manto’s short story Gurmukh Singh ki Vasiyat (The Oral Testament of Gurmukh Singh).
Asma Mundrawala (left) and Shama Askari (right)
One of Manto’s most poignant texts, the short story is based on the circumstances and events around the Partition of India in 1947, and the different communities affected by its aftermath. His illustrations of this dark period in history reflect the ironic perspectives on the human tendency of attempting to find stability in the background of violence and destruction. The story of Gurmukh Singh ki Vasiyat draws a silent and chilling picture of the circumstances one family faces, as it finds itself isolated in an increasingly troubled time.
While the Ghar’s rooftop’s special charm is its direct view of the Quaid’s mausoleum, Asma and Shama’s powerful performance raised some disturbing issues for the audience. One is reminded of Jinnah’s vision of a pluralistic and democratic Pakistan, which is increasingly relevant in modern day Pakistan.
The readings were followed by a screening of the movie Jinnah, which people often like to watch on 25th December. While the sense of patriotism seemed to be at its peak at the Ghar, the open-air cinema and Christmas festivities allowed everyone around the Ghar to feel like they had something to celebrate. As an unexpected surprise, the fireworks at The Quaid’s Mausoleum could be seen from the Ghar’s rooftop. For a ticket of only Rs.100, the event ended up being a pretty good steal for its attendees.
Fireworks at the Quaid's Mausoleum
While Day One carried a sombre and thoughtful aura, Day Two brought the laughs with comedy night by the ‘Comedy Scene’ troupe inside the Ghar’s Museum.
The Crowd on Day 2 of Winter Fest
‘Comedy Scene’ started in 2016, not just to make people laugh, but also to offer small workshops on the art of performing comedy. Their current line-up included Faheem Azam, Kashif Shahzad, Annie Shamim, Ammar Zaidi and Fayzan Yousaf. The audience were left laughing uncontrollably as ‘Comedy Scene’ and the volunteer stand-ups talked about everything, from the news to the appropriate way to eat fast food.
Faheem Azam's Stand-Up
Presenting a blend of history, culture, unique views of the city and a chance to enjoy the December breeze in a historic yet welcoming environment, the Ghar is worth a visit with your friends, family, or simply on your own.
The Winter Fest is to continue till 27th December, and will wrap up with a Qawwali by the Sufi Brothers. If you happen to be in Karachi tonight, and are looking for something to do other than attend weddings, TDF Ghar’s Winter Fest might be worth a visit.
All photo credits go to TDF Ghar. For more information about The Ghar, click here.
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