Ral Mil – the Seraiki phrase for coming together as a community

6th rendition of Wow Festival in Pakistan

The phrase comprises two parts: Ral, which means to integrate and mil which means to join – a more lyrical alternative to the commonly known and used Urdu ‘Mil Jul’, which is more formal in its usage.

About Ral Mil

Historically it is has been women that hold communities together, sharing stories and traditions and keeping families and tribes together. In this fast changing world where things seem to be in a constant flux, we need community more then ever. Our theme builds upon ideas of communities of care and imagines ways to build back better, strengthen bonds, heal wounds, find joy and salvage the earth we walk on. We want to intentionally build and nurture each other within a framework of radical love for community and acceptance of the fact that lack of access to community infrastructure and age-old cultural norms and traditions that once united humans and natures breeds desolation. The values of the festival will be shaped by the need to cultivate deep relationships with people across traditionally gated and guarded spaces and with acknowledgement of the role of all living things: plants, animals and other parts of our local heritage and ecosystems. Within these parameters we will also ask ourselves, what are the challenges to forming a community and leading from a place of radical empathy?

 

The last year has not only been a hard one as we have seen climate change ravage Pakistan in real time, but this has been coupled with political uncertainty, rising costs of living, untethered inflation with stresses about rupee devaluation, IMF negotiations and escalating costs of fuel. In crisis after crisis, we have witnessed women at the frontline of the catastrophe – leading, planning, recovering. Instances of gender-based violence have continued to overshadow the strides Pakistani women and trans people are making but have not stopped them.

As the number of natural calamities rise and the fight for economic and gender justice becomes more urgent, the thread that connects these crises has become clearer. The intersectionality of those who are affected by the global recession, by war and violence, by the viral pandemic and by climate crises is coming to light, and with it the realization of how trauma is exponentially amplified in intensity and complexity because of it.

At this time, we think that, women need a moment – both to mark the sombre year that has been, check on each other, evaluate and mourn losses and to garner strength to face what lies ahead. In difficult times, all we have is each other and the power of community is the magic we want to celebrate at WOW in 2023

Across the globe

In March 2023, events to celebrate International Women’s Day through WOW Festivals are taking place across the world. Apart from Pakistan, there will festivals in the UK, New York, Nepal, Turkey, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Western Australia.

The WOW festival in Pakistan returns from a digital format over the last 2 festivals to its 6th rendition in person and on ground on the 4th and 5th of March at Beach Luxury in Karachi, organized by the British Council in partnership with the WOW Foundation and Curators for WOW in Pakistan- Entrepreneurship and Community Development Institute (ECDI) and Olomopolo Media.

While the main festival will take place in Karachi, it will not be limited to audiences at just the physical festival site but include those who would like to continue connecting with us online. Our hybrid format will allow the festival to reach those outside the city via our website wowvirtual.pk

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