(Muniza Wasi, Islamabad)
Tradition means custom rather way of doing something that has existed for a long time. Through the passage of time traditions become quite necessary for the people around to follow particularly in the olden tribes and undeveloped countries there are a huge number of traditions that are still practiced with great enthusiasm; some of them are quite fascinating and interesting. The traditions which are very popular relate to the tribes of South Africa. China, Pakistan, India, Arabian countries and even western countries follow certain traditions regarding marriage ceremonies. An interesting tradition in a particular African tribe concerns the passion of women for long necks, the women and girls of that tribe take great pains to lengthen their necks for which they wear steel holds in their necks tightened with the aid of screws, their necks remain fastened by the grip of steel which supports and keep them straight. Sometimes the skin is affected by infections and wounds for which they apply herbs covering with a bandage and refasten the steel hold, this alone expresses their passion for long necks which doesn't seem inspiring to us as it is strangely unnerving and somehow reminds the neck of zebras but is considered the measure of height of beauty for a girl in the particular place. The longer the neck; the prettier is the girl thought to be. In the Chinese olden times, the tradition was the passion for tiny feet for ladies and was considered to be the height of beauty for which they had to tightly bind their feet with bandages to shrink them in size however this act is no longer practiced there. Another tradition relates to the wedding ceremony. The bridegroom has to build a hut for the bride, decorate it beautifully; he is not allowed to meet the bride after marriage till she spends a day in that hut provided by the bridegroom. This is said to enhance their love and respect for each other and bring blessings on them. After her stay in the hut the bride is then moved to the husband's house where she makes marry and further festivities are enjoyed. Among the Asian countries particularly India and Pakistan the concept of arranging dowry for the bride is of great importance, in fact there is hardly a concept of getting a girl married without the proposition of arranging and presenting dowry to the girl. However in some Arabian countries the concept is totally different where the husband has to arrange everything for his future wife, the wedding and even entertain the guests on his own. In western countries the tradition for the bride to wear white dress is very familiar with us. Traditions that make a country or place stand out in front of other countries must be good for the people if they make them burdened or worried they are no good for the persons concerned although people may continue to follow them half heartedly as a social restriction.