Umerkot celebrates Diwali and Rural Women’s Day together in a vibrant display of unity

Umerkot, October 20, 2025 — In a striking expression of interfaith harmony and community solidarity, the people of Umerkot jointly celebrated Diwali and International Rural Women’s Day at a colorful event organized by AWARE with support from Care International Pakistan and FCDO, where Hindu and Muslim communities joined hands to promote women’s empowerment, education, and social harmony.

Held at Shiv Nagar near Umerkot, the event drew large participation from women, men, youth, and civil society activists, highlighting women’s empowerment, education, and peace as key themes. The celebration featured tableaux, folk songs, cultural dances, and speeches that showcased the struggles and achievements of rural women.
The Shiva Mandli Group presented a tableau emphasizing the value of education, while celebrated folk singer Mai Dhai captivated the audience with her traditional songs. Bhagatiani Jiyan, a local devotee from Shiv Nagar, performed spiritual bhajans that were warmly appreciated, followed by youth cultural dance performances.

Addressing the gathering, Ghazzal Sindhi, Bansi Lal Malhi, and Tahzeeb Usman said that International Rural Women’s Day is marked worldwide to recognize the hard work, courage, and contributions of rural women.

“Awareness of women’s rights, responsibilities, and participation in decision-making is the need of the day,” they said.
Social activist and writer Shewaram Suthar added that rural women play an indispensable role in agriculture, education, health, and social development, and deserve greater access to opportunities and facilities.

“They must be supported to overcome daily hardships and lead empowered lives,” he noted.
Another speaker, Abid Hussain, said Sindh’s Sufi heritage continues to symbolize peace and pluralism, reflected in the joint celebration by Hindu and Muslim communities.
“Umerkot has long been a beacon of tolerance and interfaith harmony,” he remarked.
Women activists including Farheen Magsi and Azra Qambrani also spoke on the occasion and participated in lamp lighting and Diwali festivities.
At the conclusion of the program, AWARE representatives thanked the participants and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing women’s empowerment, education, and equality across Sindh.