Pakistan: A land cultural diversity
The cultural and ethnic diversity across the four provinces of Pakistan makes this multi-ethnic country stand out. From Punjabis to Sindhis or from Pashtuns toMuhajirs, you will find it all within Pakistan. Pakistan is culturally, religiously, and ethnically a versatile land, and we will discover the true essence and beauty of these distinct cultures and their development through the ages below.
There is an extensive history of Pakistan’s land and how communities/ tribes from
diverse backgrounds, with specific cultures and ethnicity, landed in Pakistan, creating a unified yet vicious web of cultures and traditions. Pakistan’s heritage culture reels back to the times of the Indus civilization,approximately five thousand years ago. Since then, the penetration of Islamic ideology has played a considerable role in shaping current Pakistan’s cultural dynamic. The cultural modifications in Pakistan were highly influenced by Arabic-Persian cultures and a few decades back by western cultures.
To date, numerous traditions, celebrations, food, and lifestyle has a hint of western
and Indian cultures.Celebrations such as Holi (Hinducelebration), Christmas, and Thanksgiving (western celebrations) have become prevalent in Pakistan. The more we explore the culture of the west, the more we follow them.
•Ethnicity:
Accommodating more than fifteen major ethnic groups, Pakistan is a land of cultural and ethnic heterogeneity. The most notable communities include Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns (Pathans), Balochi, Kashmiris, and Muhajirs (communities that
migrated from India to Pakistan during the partition). The core communities for each ethnicity are primarily divided across provinces of Pakistan, i.e., Pashtuns are mainly concentrated in KPK (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sindhis towards South, Punjabis towards East, and Balochis towards South-West. The intermixing of these several cultures, their traditions, and lifestyle are well-developed, and people are intrigued to learn about neighboring cultures within Pakistan.
•Languages :
According to a website about languages, Ethnologue, 74 languages are spoken in Pakistan; Urdu being the national language. Of these 74 languages, the main provincial
languages are Pashto (Pakhto), Sindhi, Punjabi, and Balochi. Few other widely spoken languages are Brahui, Saraiki, Balti, Hindko, Kashmiri, Gujari, Shina, Wakhi ,Burushaski, and Khowar.
•Music:
The music culture in Pakistan is rich and diversified, an eminent treasure that every Pakistani feels proud of. Among so many forms of Pakistani music, the world-renowned is Sufi music, Qawwali, and Ghazal, where legendary singers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Noor Jehan, Sabri brothers, left their mark on the audiences globally. In contemporary forms of music, Rahat Fateh Ali, Atif Aslam, and many others have produced some remarkable music that audiences like worldwide. Music is not confined to classical genres, the musicians in the past and nowadays quenched their passion for music by exploring pop, rock, jazz, folk, blues, and country.
•Punjabi Culture :
Punjab (the land of 5 rivers) is that the biggest acreage of Pakistan and is popularly known for its culture. According to population, 56% of the entire population of the country is situated in Punjab Province. It consisted on 36 districts and contributes approximately 50-60 per cent of the economy.The poetry of affection and war, fairs and festivals, dancing, music and Punjabi literature are among the characteristic expressions of the Punjabi culture. The people of Punjab love their culture. Punjabi culture is among the oldest and richest cultures in world history, dating from ancient antiquity to the digital era.
Language:
Punjabi is the provincial language of Punjab. Key Punjabi languages/dialects are Pothowari, Hindko, Jhangvi, Shahpuri, Pahari, Majhi and Saraiki.
Sufism:
Punjabi culture has deep roots in Sufism. Sufi saints spread the message of Islam by living their lives in line with the Islamic way. The followers of those saints arrange fairs and festivals to pay tribute to them. The fairs and festivals showcase cultural traditions and folklife.
Music and dance:
The most prominent musical kind in Punjabi culture is the Bhangra and it’s slowly taking up the mainstream music industry. Due to its long history, different dance forms have emerged and developed. Other popular dance styles are Sammi Dhamal, Sankara Juli and Lodhi.
Cuisine:
The most popular dish in Punjabi cuisine is Tandoori chicken. Most Punjabi food is eaten with either rice or roti. There are some dishes that are exclusive to Punjab like lassi, Paratha, Makai ki roti, Saron ka Saag, Haleem, Biryani and other spicy dishes are popular. In beverages, tea is consumed altogether seasons and as a custom, most of the Punjabis serve tea to their guests. Punjabis are also fond of Zarda, Gulab-Jamuns, Kheer, Jalebi, Samosa, Pakorey etc.. These cuisines have become world-wide delicacies with large scale representation.
Clothing:
The traditional dress for Punjabi women was Punjabi Ghagra which is replaced by salwar suit and the Patiala salwar is very popular too. The traditional dress for Punjabi men is that and kurta which is now being replaced by the kurta and pyjama.
People:
Punjabi @ people are very warm-hearted and fun-loving. Punjabis are a heterogeneous group comprising of various tribes, clans, communities and are known to celebrate each and each tradition of their culture. Punjabis also believe cast system but as now people are becoming educated, the differences are becoming blurred.
Sports:
Punjabi people have a fanatical interest in sports. Punjabi’s are a fan of kabaddi, and wrestling, which is additionally popular in other parts of Pakistan and it’s also played on a national level. Other games being played in Punjab region include Gilli-Danda, , Yassu-Panju, Pitho-Garam, Ludo, Chuppan-Chupai, Baraf-Panni, Kathy and a few major sports include cricket, boxing, horse-racing, hockey and football. National Horse and Cattle Show at Lahore is that the biggest festival where sports, exhibitions, and livestock competitions are held.
Cultural Festivals:
There are numerous festivals which are celebrated by Punjabi people including some religious festivals like Eid-Milad-Un-Nabi, Jumu’ah, Laylat-ul-Qadr. The capital Lahore is widely popular for its entertaining events and activities. Lahori’s are famous everywhere the country for celebrations particularly for Basant festival (kite flying) within the spring season. Other festivals celebrated in Punjab region include Baisakhi, Teej etc.
•Literature:
Punjab is very rich with literature and Sufis adds more in its literature. Some famous poets of Punjabi are Sultan Bahu, Mian Mohammad Baksh, Baba Farid and Shah Hussain. Waris Shah, whose contribution to Punjabi literature is best known for his seminal work in Heer Ranjha, known as Shakespeare of Punjabi language. Bulleh Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and a philosopher. The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is called the Kafi, a style of Punjabi. Some other popular folk tales of Punjab include Sassi-Punnu, Sohni Mahiwal etc. that are passing through generations.
•Sindhi culture :
Sindh has been named after the well-known River Indus. In Sanskrit, the area was named Sindhu meaning a sea. Around 3000 B.C, Dravidian societies urbanized and offered to ascend to the Indus Valley Civilization. In the ongoing history, Sindh was conquered by the British in 1843. Sindh territory remained the piece of British India until 1947 when it was made one of the territories of Pakistan.
Language:
The Sindhi language developed over a time of 2400 years. The language of the individuals of Sindh, subsequent to coming in contact with the Aryan, became Indo-Aryan (Prakrit). Sindhi language, hence, has a strong base of Prakrit just as Sanskrit, the language of India, with jargon from Arabic, Persian, and some Dravidian – relatives from Mediterranean sub-mainland. Different dialects are Saraiki, Kutchi, Memoni, Brohi and Dhatki.
Dresses:
Ajrak and Sindhi Topi are the symbols of Sindhi’s way of life and progress for a large number of years. Ajrak, essentially, is a name given to one of a kind block print shawls. Sindhi culture shows unique plans and pattern in these shawls. Commonly, red, black and yellow colours are utilized while making these shawls.
Cuisine:
Sindhi food alludes to the local cuisine of the Sindhi individuals from Sindh, Pakistan. The everyday nourishment in most Sindhi family units comprises of wheat-based level bread (phulka) and rice in the midst of two dishes, one sauce and one dry.
Sports:
The area of Sindh invites and has the conventional games like Kabaddi, Malakhra, Wanj Watts, Horse Dancing, Horse Racing and Cattle Race sent on their particular affiliations.
Art and Music :
Sindhi society is dominated by great Sufis, the mystics and the martyrs. It has always been the land of peace, love and great cultural and artistic values. There were the great Sufi (spiritualist) artists like Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai who was the cherisher of truth and spent his life for spreading peace. Bhitai was additionally an astounding artist.
Lifestyle:
People of Sindh are more inclined towards an agricultural based lifestyle. The fertile Indus Plains provide a valuable source of income for the local people who practice farming on these lands Itinerant way of lifestyle is commonly seen in the deserted regions of Thar where people move from place to place in search for drinking water sources along with their animals.
Pashtun culture:
There were theories ranging from Pakhtuns having an Aryan, Jewish, Arab or mixed origin. None was convincing enough to form a conclusion.
Food:
One of the most popular dishes are tikka, serge, sugi ka halwa, kawa, chapli kabab, kabala paleo, and long naans.
Literature:
Pathan is extremely well known for their poetry, they are enthusiastic and devoted which is clear from their poetry. A portion of the celebrated writers is including Amir Koror Suri, Khushal Khan Khattak, Rahman Baba and numerous others.
Dance:
Attn. Khattak dance, Masud and Waziri move is the well-known dance types of Pashtun culture.
Clothing:
Pashtun men commonly wear a Partoog-Korth in Pashto (salwar kameez is Urdu) with a pakul (Pashtun cap). In the Kandahar area, youngsters wear diverse kind of cap like a topi and in the Peshawar locale, they wear white kufis. Pioneers or tribal chiefs some of the time wear a karakul cap, like Hamid Karzai and others. Ladies and young ladies wear customary long dresses with a light bit of material used to cover their hair. They additionally wear excellent handcrafted gems and wonderful Pashtoon dresses.
•Balochi culture:
Baloch culture is inverse to the general recognition about it. Despite the fact that Balochistan is a zone of fruitless grounds, deserts and mountains, the Baloch culture is brimming with conventions, and artworks. Balochi weaving is one of the most well-known crafts, which are done by the females. Another component of Baloch culture is the narrating convention. Artists and story tellers are exceptionally regarded in Baloch culture.
Clothing:
Like the other parts of Pakistan, the national dress shalwar kameez with particular augmentations and adjustments are worn in Baloch culture. The individuals spruce up pleasingly and similarly in all the clans. Turban is the normal headwear of Bloch men alongside wide loose shalwar alongside knee-long shirts. Females dress comprises of a shirt having a major pocket and weaving and implanted round mirror work in front. A major Dupatta/Chaddar are taken to cover the head and shoulders .
Music:
Baloch culture is wealthy in people music dances and songs. Well, known wedding melodies of Baloch culture are Nazenk and Salon. The instruments utilized are principally a flute, locally called Nal, Tamboura and Soro.
Cuisine:
Normally Baloch individuals have meals in the morning and night. Millet and rice are a piece of the Baloch feast. Meat is additionally a significant part; “Sajji” is the most loved dish of individuals. Milk, butter and vegetables are likewise part of Balochi food.
Sports:
Well known games incorporate chauk, and Ji. Additionally games like wrestling, horse hustling, shooting and chasing leisure activities among the wealthier individuals of clans. Games and betting are likewise mainstream among gatherings of certain clans.
