An Evening at the Mahfil Fair

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

Yesterday, a large religious gathering (waaz mahfil) took place near our home. Scholars and speakers from different parts of the country came to deliver sermons and spiritual advice. One interesting thing about these events is that wherever a mahfil is held, a small fair automatically grows around it. Dozens of temporary stalls appear, offering everything from household items to children’s toys, snacks, and more.

After returning home from the office, Nusaiba and my wife insisted that we must visit the fair that evening. Seeing their excitement, I couldn’t refuse. So the three of us headed out together. Surprisingly, there were more people in the fair than inside the main mahfil tent. The whole area was crowded—bright lights, vendors shouting to sell their goods, children running around, and a lively, festive atmosphere everywhere.

The moment we entered the fair, Nusaiba’s eyes were glued to the colorful toys displayed on the ground. One after another, she kept pointing—“Baba, I want this… I want that…” There’s something truly heartwarming about a child’s innocent joy. So, I bought her a toy car, a bird, and a horse. The way her face lit up after receiving the toys made the entire visit worthwhile.

While walking around, the sweet smell of fresh jilapi caught our attention. Before leaving, we bought some jilapi to enjoy at home. Altogether, we spent barely 30–35 minutes at the fair, but those few moments brought a lot of happiness and warmth to our evening.

Fairs like these are not just places to shop—they are small celebrations where families can enjoy a simple outing, children find joy in little things, and people experience a touch of cultural festivity. Seeing Nusaiba’s bright smile reminded me that sometimes it’s these small moments that bring the greatest joy to a family.