There is no Eid for beggars, says handicapped Gul Aqa

KABUL (Pajhwok): Most Afghans celebrate the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr by wearing new clothes, visiting friends and family members to redouble their joys but Gul Aqa, 45, is begging on the roads.

Muslims throughout the world celebrate two Eids — Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha — with religious zeal and enthusiasm.

In Afghanistan too, people celebrate Eid for three days, they wear new clothes, prepare food, and dry and fresh fruits to serve the guests.

Mohammad, a resident of the capital Kabul, said he was thrilled to celebrate Eid. “Eid is a traditional and religious festival, and people naturally celebrate it in their own styles. I like other people to wear new clothes during Eid, similarly, my family members wear new clothes and bring different types of food and fruits to our home.”

When asked about his expenses on Eid shopping, he said: “Up to 150,000 afs we spend on Eid shopping but this time I spent up to 70,000 afs.”

He said it was unfair to think only about his own happiness and according to his financial strength, he distributed cash and items among poor people.

On the other side, there are families and individuals who wonder how to find the next meal so how would they think about celebrating Eid.

A man, who from dawn to dusk begs on roadsides and streets, introduced himself as GulAqa who has been doing this for the past four years due to severe poverty and unemployment.

He, who along with other beggars call for alms in Shahr-e-Naw Park, said “for poor people, Eid is when they get a piece of bread or food and share it with their children”.

Gul Aqa and his two sons travel miles on foot in narrow and difficult trails to reach Shahr-i-Naw where they beg from well-off people.

Today (Monday) when people are celebrating the first day of Eid, GulAqa as usual arrived at his place in the park and started begging.

He sat on a small piece of old fabric and looked at people moving in front of him on a footpath. “Please help me, I am disabled, cannot work, I have nothing to eat, I have to feed six children.”

GulAqa is a disabled person, deprived of a leg and a hand, thus he could not work and has no other option but to beg.

When asked what preparations he has made for Eid, he said: “I am not happy upon the arrival of Eid because I cannot celebrate it, I don’t have new clothes and neither my children have. Eid is for well-off people and those who could implement the demands of their children.”

This is not only GulAqa, there are tens of other beggars, including women and girls, whose lives relied on begging.

Benafsha, 16, is another living example. She asks people for money and assistance to survive. “My fellow girls got their preparations for Eid but my father is incapable to buy new clothes for me,” she said.

Benafsha said she did not want new clothes and other things for Eid because her family is suffering from a worsening economic situation.

nh/ma

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