Trend of Culture Pakistan

Trend of Culture Pakistan
by (trenpak@gmail.com)

"Pakistan's culture is again unique like the rest of the country. Pakistan's geography is the meeting point of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia/Gulf. Its culture could be termed as a combination of subcontinental, Islamic, Regional, English and more recently global influences. Let us consider them piecemeal. The newly born Pakistan had to have a subcontinental leaning, having been a part of for last 5000 years of its civilization. However, the Indus Valley, present day Pakistan, culture was different from the rest of North India or South India". (Quoted Pakistan's Identity, History and Culture, from the famous book Gwadar on the Global Chessboard by Nadir Mir).
The society and culture of Pakistan comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis, and Muhajirs in the east; the tribal cultures of the Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic, Wakhi and Burusho communities in the north. These Pakistani cultures have been greatly influenced by many of the surrounding countries' cultures, such as the Turkic peoples, Persian, Afghan, and Indians of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
In ancient times, Pakistan was a major cultural hub. Many cultural practices and great monuments have been inherited from the time of the ancient rulers of the region. One of the greatest cultural influences was that of the Persian Empire, of which Pakistan was a part. In fact, the Pakistani satraps were at one time the richest and most productive of the massive Persian Empire. Other key influences include the Afghan Empire, Mughal Empire and later, the short lived but influential, the British Empire.

Pakistan has a cultural and ethnic background going back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from 2800–1800 B.C., and was remarkable for its ordered cities, advanced sanitation, excellent roads, and uniquely structured society. Pakistan has been invaded many times in the past, and has been occupied and settled by many different peoples, each of whom have left their imprint on the current inhabitants of the country. Some of the largest groups were the 'Aryans', Greeks, Scythians, Persians, White Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Afghans, Buddhists and other Eurasian groups, up to and including the British, who left in the late 1940s.

The region has formed a distinct cultural unit within the main cultural complex of South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia from the earliest times, and is analogous to Turkey's position in Eurasia. There are differences in culture among the different ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion, especially where pre-Islamic customs differ from Islamic practices. Their cultural origins also reveal influences from far afield, including Tibet, Nepal, India and eastern Afghanistan. All groups show varying degrees of influence from Persia, Turkestan and Hellenistic Greece. Pakistan was the first region of South Asia to receive the full impact of Islam and has developed a distinct Islamic identity, historically different from areas further west.
Diwan-e-Khas: The hall of special audience with the emperor
Bahauddin Zakariya
Ancient sites in Pakistan include: Zorastrian Fire temples, Islamic centres,shia shrines/ Sufi Shrines, Buddhist temples, Sikh, Hindu and Pagan temples and shrines, gardens, tombs, palaces, monuments, and Mughal and Indo-Saracenic buildings. Sculpture is dominated by Greco-Buddhist friezes, and crafts by ceramics, jewellery, silk goods and engraved woodwork and metalwork.
Pakistani society is largely multilingual, multi-ethnic and multicultural. Though cultures within the country differ to some extent, more similarities than differences can be found, as most Pakistanis are mainly of Aryan heritage or have coexisted side by side along the Indus River for several thousand years, or both. However, over 60 years of integration, a distinctive "Pakistani" culture has sprung up, especially in the urban areas where many of the diverse ethnic groups have coexisted and in many cases, intermarried. Education is highly regarded by members of every socio-economic stratum, with the country now having a literacy rate of 55%, up from 3% at the time of independence. Traditional family values are highly respected and considered sacred, although urban families increasingly form nuclear families, owing to socio-economic constraints imposed by the traditional culture of the extended family.

The past few decades have seen emergence of a middle class in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Sialkot, Abbottabad and Multan. Rural areas of Pakistan are regarded as more conservative, and are dominated by regional tribal customs dating back hundreds if not thousands of years.
It is crystal clear and the vivid fact that a country is famous and known among other countries on the map because of its customs, culture and traditions which happen to be the representatives of the history, faith, language and environment of that country. Similarly, the cultural and traditional patterns of Pakistan speak of our affluent legacy and customs prevailing on this land.  Pakistani culture is the fusion of Indian, Central Asian countries and the Middle East cultures. The cultures and traditions in Pakistan vary from province to province and even cities to cities.

In shaping the cultural life, Islam has essayed a brilliant role and has provided with us the patterns for molding our lives according to the prescribed methods.  Although the majority of the people in Pakistan is the followers of Islam and Islamic traditions but simultaneously Pakistan has other religions’ followers as well so these traditions of other religions have fused into our daily lives and become the parts of our own Pakistani culture. Below is the list of some of the chief festivals celebrated in Pakistan and the customs, which are embedded with these festivals





Trend of National Dress

Shalwar Qameez

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The national dress of Pakistan is Shalwar Qameez  for both men and women. It consists of a long, loose fitting tunic with very baggy trousers. The dress is believed to be an amalgamation of the dresses worn by the ancient Persians, and Mughal Empire who have left their impression on the people and culture of Pakistan.
The men's version consists of solid, masculine colours, and is almost always accompanied by a collar and buttons (similar to a polo shirt). Men often wear an outer waistcoat over the shalwar kameez. The women's version almost never contains collar and buttons but is often embroidered and consists of feminine colors and may feature lace or flower patterns. Sari are also worn by women in Pakistan, especially in the region of Sindh.
In the summer, a light, cotton version is often worn, while during the winter, a heavier, wool version is worn.
The sherwani or achkan with karakul hat is the recommended dress for male government employees and officials, as it is not specifically associated with any of the provinces. Most male government officials wear the formal black sherwani on state occasions.
A large Pakistani diaspora exists in the West and the Middle East. Whereas Pakistanis in the United States, Canada and Australia tend to be professionals, the majority of them in the United Kingdom, Germany and Scandinavia originally came from a rural background belonging to the working class. These emigrants and their children influence Pakistan culturally and economically, keeping close ties with their roots by travelling to Pakistan and especially by returning or investing there.


Dance
Folk dances are still popular in Pakistan and vary according to region such as:
Bhangra -Punjab
Luddi - Punjab
Dhammal - Performed at Sufi shrines/ dargahs in Punjab and Sindh
Attan - Folk dance of Pashtuns tribes of Pakistan including the unique styles of Quetta and Waziristan
Khattak Dance - Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Jhumar - Siraiki and Balochi folk dance
Ho Jamalo Sindhi dance
Lewa - Baluchi folk dance


Trend of culture Punjab

The Punjabi Language :
Punjabi is originally the language of people of Punjab, the land of the five tributaries of the mighty Indus River in the northwestern part of South Asia, where the Indus Civilization flourished 4700 years ago. That land now comprises Punjab (India) and Punjab (Pakistan).
Over 100 million speakers of the Punjabi language now make their presence felt in almost all continents of the world. Punjabi Diaspora brought their language, religion and culture with them. A new generation of Punjabi learners wishes to mirror the cultural and linguistic diversity of the global community.
Phonetic features of the Punjabi language are easy to decode as there is hardly any ambiguity in the script and the sound. Most consonants are grouped according to their place and manner of articulation. Aspirated and un-aspirated consonants in Punjabi form distinctive phonemes, whereas in English, these are only variants.

Trend of culture Balochistan

Balochistan (بلوچستان) is the largest province (by area) of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 census, Balochistan had a population of roughly 6.6 million.

Its neighbouring regions are Iran to the west; Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the north; and Punjab and Sindh to the east. To the south lies the Arabian Sea. The main languages in the province are Balochi, Brahui, Pashto and Urdu. The provincial capital is Quetta and Gwadar is the developing port city. The Baloch and Pashtun people constitute the two major ethnic groups; a mixed ethnic stock, mainly of Sindhi origin, forms the third major group (Sindhi Baloch). Balochistan is rich in mineral resources; it is the second major supplier of natural gas in Pakistan.


Trend of culture Culture Sindh

The culture of Sindh ( سنڌي سڀيتا ) has its roots in the Indus Valley Civilization. Sindh has been shaped by the geography of the largely desert region, the natural resources it had available and the continuous foreign influences. The Indus or Sindhu River that passes through the land, and the Arabian Sea (that defines its borders) also supported the sea-faring traditions among the local people. The local climate also reflects why the Sindhis have the language, folklore, traditions, customs and lifestyle that are so different from the neighbouring regions.

Trend of culture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

"North West Frontier" redirects here. For other uses, see North West Frontier (disambiguation).
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (خیبر پختونخوا), previously known as the North-West Frontier Province, Kunta-Punta[citation needed] and various other names, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the north-west of the country. It borders Afghanistan to the north-west, Gilgit-Baltistan to the north-east, Pakistan administered Kashmir to the east, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to the west and south and Punjab and the Islamabad Capital Territory to the south-east.
The main ethnic group in the province is the Pashtuns; other smaller ethnic groups include most notably the Hazarewals and Chitralis. The principal languages are Pashto, locally referred to as Pukhto.
The provincial capital is Peshawar, locally referred to as Pekhawar.

Trend of culture Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltistan ( گلگت - بلتستان,  شمالی علاقہ جات,)  is the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. It borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir to the southwest, and Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir to the southeast. Gilgit-Baltistan covers an area of 72,971 km² (28,174 mi²) and is highly mountainous. It has an estimated population approaching 1,000,000. Its administrative center is the city of Gilgit (population 216,760).
The territory became a single administrative unit in 1970 under the name Northern Areas and was formed by the amalgamation of the Gilgit Agency, the Baltistan District of the Ladakh Wazarat, and the states of Hunza and Nagar. Pakistan and the majority of the local inhabitants of Gilgit-Baltistan consider the territory separate and distinct from Kashmir, whereas India and the European Union consider the territory as a part of the larger disputed territory of Kashmir that has been in dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947