Guests And Hospitality A Nuisance Or A Boon
Photo by Flash Dantz on Unsplash
Hospitality is a glorious tradition of the east. Eastern nations particularly the muslims have immortal legends regarding guests and their warm welcome. Hatim, a leader of “Tae” tribe is a legendary figure in this field. Islam lays special stress on this aspect of life The life of the Holy Prophet and his descendents is profusely rich in traditions regarding guest’s welcome and entertainment. They often had to go without meals because they served their own to the arriving guest.
Guests are welcomed even today but traditions have changed. Wealthy relations and guests are more welcomed than the poor and destitute. When they are informed about their arrival, their hosts become ready to enjoy this pleasant occasion. When the guests are expected from abroad, every relation - however distant, shows warmth and interest in welcoming and inviting them for a dinner. The reason is their large suitcases, which contain various articles (foreign made) of daily use e.g. perfumes, clothes and woolies. Everyone expects some costly gift from these guests.
The guests generally upset the routine of a family. The hosts have to provide company and spare time for them. The mood of the hosts and the number of the guests - both have close association. If their stay is short and the number of guests is manageable then the host somehow or the other will try to become habitual. If it is otherwise, the situation may become tense and nerve-wrecking. The bitterness in the mood of the host is an indication that guests should seek departure or something unpleasant will occur. Often, in the hot summer weather of our plains, when the schools are closed to rescue the small children from scorching sun; the families plan to go to some auntie at a different station or in a distant village. Often hosts are insensitive and not affected by commercialism - they keep themselves composed, otherwise the situation sometimes flares up.
Sometimes the guests provide a pleasant change in the dull and boring routine of a home. The hosts and guests enjoy picnics and light parties out of home and sometimes they disturb others in the neighborhood. The children, usually, upset the whole setting of a house, they throw away and break many precious articles in a house. The hosts are forced to show good humor and keep on saying, ‘No matter’, ‘don’t mind’, ‘then what’, otherwise they keep on twitching in anger. They feel very disturbed but cannot say anything. The babies are lovely and innocent, but they are the most troublesome guests. In the villages, in some traditional families, there is a custom of giving some money to children when the guests depart. This is a nice gesture of goodwill and asking guests not to come soon in the near future.
The host feels disturbed when the guests arrive without prior information. There should be no barrier between guests and hosts. They can ask and tell each other about their programmes to avoid any awkward situation. When the hosts want to leave from some urgency the guests should not mind . Sometimes the guests, who come, without informing, have to face a strange and troublesome situation. The house, they seek entry for staying a couple of days, is found locked. Then they feel disturbed. There is no harm in informing the host before departure. It saves inconvenience to both the parties. If the host is not available, he can accordingly inform.
The children enjoy visiting their friends and relatives the most. The children feel overjoyed, when their parents inform them of going somewhere. For so many days they remain busy in preparation for their journey. They very proudly announce it among their friends to try to impress them with their preparation and other programmes. If osm guests are expected, even then the children feel pleased and happy. They get around the guests, listen to their talk and keenly play with the children of the guests. They make friends with them, they even offer their toys to them.
However, the guests are like a gush of fresh air, provided the number and period of stay is manageable. They bring a change in the boring routine of a house and life presents a different shade and meaning for a few days.