By Eman Alam
ISLAMABAD:First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari extended her heartfelt wishes to the Hindu and Sikh families across Pakistan and around the world on this joyful occasion of Vaisakhi/Baisakhi.
“Vaisakhi/Baisakhi carries a cherished significance. It is a celebration of the earth’s abundance, of faith and of the bonds that hold families and communities together. It is a moment to give thanks for the harvest that sustains life, and to honour the labour and devotion that make it possible,” she said in a message on the occasion of Vaisakhi/Baisakhi being celebrated on April 14.
At this time of year, the first lady said she found herself thinking especially of the women in their rural communities, the mothers, daughters, and sisters who carried so much on their shoulders.
“Through the long and demanding harvest season, they move between the fields and the home, nurturing both without rest. Their strength is extraordinary, even when it goes unspoken. Even when the roads are long, the resources few and the days unrelenting, they find ways to hold their families together with grace and love. It is a quiet, daily courage that deserves to be seen and celebrated,” President Secretariat Media Wing, in a press release, quoted her as saying.
She said families were the heart of every harvest, and it was the resilience within each home that truly defined a community’s spirit, adding, “When families are able to celebrate this season together, having given so much of themselves through weeks of work, that is something truly worthy of recognition and gratitude.”
Aseefa further extended her deep respect and warmest wishes to the Hindu and Sikh brothers and sisters who gathered in prayer and celebration on this day.
“Your traditions, your devotion and your spirit of community are a cherished part of the beautiful and diverse tapestry of our nation,” she opined.
The first lady wished that Vaisakhi/Baisakhi might bring rest, joy and the gift of time for the Hindu and Sikh communities in the country, adding, as one season of effort gave way to celebration, their homes might be filled with laughter, blessings and the warmth of togetherness.
