Culture of Pakistan

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The society and culture of Pakistan (Urdu:

‫ﺛﻘﺎﻓﺖ ﭘﺎﮐﺴﺘﺎن‬
ِ S̱aqāfat-e-Pākistān)
comprises numerous ethnic groups: the
Punjabis, Saraikis, Pothwaris, Kashmiris,
Sindhis in east, Makrani in the south;
Baloch, Hazaras and Pashtuns in the west;
and the Dards, Wakhi, Baltis, Shinaki and
Burusho communities in the north. The
culture of these Pakistani ethnic groups
have been greatly influenced by many of
its neighbours, such as the other South
Asians, Turkic peoples as well as the
peoples of Central Asia and West Asia.

The region has formed a distinct unit

within the main geographical complex of
South Asia, West Asia the Middle East and
Central Asia from the earliest times, and is
analogous to the position of
Afghanistan.[1] There are differences
among the ethnic groups in cultural
aspects 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 China, India and
Afghanistan. Pakistan was the first region
of South Asia to be fully impacted by Islam
and has thus developed a distinct Islamic
identity, historically different from areas
further east.[1]

Literature

Muhammad Iqbal was the ideological father of

Pakistan
Pakistani literature originates from when
Pakistan gained its independence as a
sovereign state in 1947. The common and
shared tradition of Urdu literature and
English literature of Greater India was
inherited by the new state. Over a period of
time, a body of literature unique to
Pakistan emerged, written in nearly all
major Pakistani languages, including Urdu,
English, Punjabi, Pashto, Seraiki, Baloch,
and Sindhi.

Poetry
Poetry is a highly respected art and
profession in Pakistan. The pre-eminent
form of poetry in Pakistan almost always
originates in Persian, due in part to the
long-standing affiliation and heavy
admiration the region's rulers once had for
certain aspects of foreign Persian culture.
The enthusiasm for poetry exists at a
regional level as well, with nearly all of
Pakistan's provincial languages continuing
the legacy. Since the independence of the
country in 1947 and establishment of Urdu
as the national language, poetry is written
in that language as well. The Urdu
language has a rich tradition of poetry and
includes the famous poets Muhammad
Iqbal (national poet), Mir Taqi Mir, Ghalib,
Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Faraz, Habib
Jalib, Jazib Qureshi, and Ahmad Nadeem
Qasmi. Apart from Urdu poetry, Pakistani
poetry also has blends of other regional
languages. Balochi, Sindhi, Punjabi, Seraiki,
and Pashto poetry have all incorporated
and influenced Pakistani poetry.

Performing arts
Music

A sitar workshop in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The variety of Pakistani music ranges from
diverse provincial folk music and
traditional styles such as Qawwali and
Ghazal Gayaki to modern forms fusing
traditional and Western music, such as the
synchronisation of Qawwali and Western
music by the world-renowned Sabri
Brothers and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. In
addition, Pakistan is home to many
famous folk singers such as the late Alam
Lohar, who is also well known in Indian
Punjab. The arrival of Afghan refugees in
the western provinces has rekindled Dari
music and established Peshawar as a hub
for Afghan musicians and a distribution
center for Afghani music abroad.
Dances

Kathak -the classical dance that developed

in the royal courts of the Mughals.

Folk dances are still popular in Pakistan

and vary according to the region such as:

Punjab

Bhangra - Punjab
Luddi - Punjab
Sammi - Punjab
Jhumar - Saraiki, and Balochi folk dance

Balochistan
 Lewa - Baluch folk dance from Makran
region
Chap - Baluch folk dance performed at
weddings
Jhumar - Saraiki, and Balochi folk dance

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Attan - Folk dance of Pashtuns tribes of

Pakistan including the unique styles of
Quetta and Waziristan
Khattak Dance - sword dance of Khattak
tribe in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Jhumar and Gatka - Popular dance of
hazara division Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Chitrali Dance - Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
 Kumbar - folk dance of Hazara

Sindh

Dhammal - Performed at Sufi shrines/

dargahs in Punjab and Sindh
Ho Jamalo - Sindhi dance
Jhumro

Drama and theatre

These are very similar to stage plays in

theatres. They are performed by well-
known actors and actresses in the
Lollywood industry. The dramas and plays
often deal with themes from everyday life,
often with a humorous touch.
Visual arts
Painting

Abdul Rehman Chughtai, Sughra Rababi,

Ustad Allah Baksh, Aboo B. Rana, Ajaz
Anwar, Ismail Gulgee, Jamil Naqsh, and
Sadequain are prominent and outstanding
creative painters of Pakistan. Pakistani
vehicle art is a popular folk art.

Architecture
The Lahore Fort, a landmark built during the Mughal
era, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The architecture of the areas now

constituting Pakistan can be traced to four
distinct periods: pre-Islamic, Islamic,
colonial, and post-colonial. With the
beginning of the Indus civilization around
the middle of the 3rd millennium[2] B.C., an
advanced urban culture developed for the
first time in the region, with large structural
facilities, some of which survive to this
day.[3] Mohenjo Daro, Harappa and Kot Diji
belong to the pre-Islamic era settlements.
The rise of Buddhism, Guptas, Mouryas,
and the Persian and Greek influence led to
the development of the Greco-Buddhist
style, starting from the 1st century CE. The
high point of this era was reached with the
culmination of the Gandhara style. An
example of Buddhist architecture is the
ruins of the Buddhist monastery Takht-i-
Bahi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The arrival of Islam in today's Pakistan

introduced the classical Islamic
construction techniques into Pakistan's
architectural landscape.[4] However, a
smooth transition to predominantly
picture-less Islamic architecture occurred.
The town of Uch Sharif contains the tombs
of Bibi Jawindi, Baha'is-Halim, and
Jalaluddin Bukhari, which are considered
some of the earliest examples of Islamic
architecture in Pakistan and are on the
UNESCO Tentative World Heritage Site list
since 2004.[5] One of the most important
of the few examples of the Persian style of
architecture is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-
i-Alam in Multan. During the Mughal era,
design elements of Islamic-Persian
architecture were fused with, and often
produced playful forms of, local art,
resulting in the establishment of Mughal
Architecture. Lahore, occasional residence
of Mughal rulers, exhibits a multiplicity of
important buildings from the empire,
among them the Badshahi mosque, the
fortress of Lahore with the famous
Alamgiri Gate, the colourful, still strongly
Mughal-influenced Wazir Khan Mosque as
well as numerous other mosques and
mausoleums. The Shahjahan Mosque of
Thatta in Sindh also originates from the
epoch of the Mughals, as does the
Mohabbat Khan Mosque in Peshawar.
In the British colonial age, the buildings
developed were predominantly of the Indo-
European style, with a mixture of European
and Indian-Islamic components. Post-
colonial national identity is expressed in
modern structures like the Faisal Mosque,
the Minar-e-Pakistan and the Mazar-e-
Quaid.

Recreation and sports

The official national sport of Pakistan is
field hockey, but cricket and squash are
the most popular sports. The Pakistan
national field hockey team has won the
Hockey World Cup a record four times.
The Pakistan national cricket team won
the Cricket World Cup in 1992, were
runners-up in 1999, and co-hosted the
games in 1987 and 1996. Additionally, they
have also won the ICC World Twenty20 in
2009 and were runners-up in 2007. The
team has also won the Austral-Asia Cup in
1986, 1990, and 1994. In 2017, Pakistan
won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy
against their rival India.

At the international level, Pakistan has

competed many times at the Summer
Olympics in field hockey, boxing, athletics,
swimming, and shooting. Hockey is the
sport in which Pakistan has been most
successful at the Olympics, winning three
gold medals (1960, 1968, and 1984).
Pakistan has also won the Hockey World
Cup four times (1971, 1978, 1982, and
1994).[6] Pakistan has hosted several
international competitions, including the
South Asian Federation Games in 1989
and 2004.

A1 Grand Prix racing is also becoming

popular with the entry of a Pakistani team
in the 2005 season. The Tour de Pakistan,
modeled on the Tour de France, is an
annual cycling competition that covers the
length and breadth of Pakistan. Recently,
football has grown in popularity across the
country, where traditionally it had been
played almost exclusively in the western
province of Balochistan. FIFA has recently
teamed up with the government to bring
football closer to the northern areas.

Cuisine

Seekh kebab - one of the famous Pakistani food

specialities

Culinary art in Pakistan mainly a mix of

Indian cuisines with some Middle Eastern
and Afghan influence. There are variations
of cooking practices across the country,
mostly from spicy in Punjab and Sindh to
steamed and boiled in NWFP and
Balochistan. Urban centers of the country
offer an amalgamation of recipes from all
parts of the country, while food with
specific local ingredients and tastes is
available in rural areas and villages.
Different specialties exist throughout the
country mostly different type of rice like
Biryani, Pulao or Boiled rice with
vegetables and meat are used with Korma
and desserts. There are also local forms
of grilled meat or kebabs, Kheer desserts,
and a variety of hot and cold drinks.
Festivals and observances
Ramadan

Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic

calendar, is a month of fasting from dawn
to sunset. It is widely observed by
Pakistan's Muslim majority. Muslims
during this month will fast, attend
mosques with increased frequency, and
offer "Namaz-traveeh" every day with Isha
prayer and recite Qur'an. Special foods are
cooked in greater quantities, parties are
held, and special accommodation is made
by workplaces and educational institutes.
Chand Raat

Chand Raat is the Moon night when

crescent moon is sighted on last day of
Islamic month of Ramadan and next day is
Eid ul-Fitr. In the night known as Chand
Raat, people celebrate by various means,
such as girls putting henna on their hands.
People buy gifts and sweets that will be
given to friends and families who come
over to celebrate the end of Ramadan. The
streets, major buildings, and landmarks,
even outside of malls and plazas, put on
displays of elaborate decorations and
colorful light shows. There are large
crowds in the city center to celebrate the
beginning of Eid, and it is usually a boom
time for business.

Eid celebrations

The 17th-century Badshahi Mosque built by Mughal

emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore

The two Eids, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha,

commemorate the passing of the month
of fasting, Ramadan, and the willingness
of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael for
Allah. On these days, there are national
holidays and many festival events that
take place to celebrate Eid.<As Pakistan is
a Muslim state, there are three days off for
all businesses and government offices.

On the night before Eid, people search for

the new moon to mark the end of
Ramadan and arrival of Eid ul-Fitr. The day
starts with morning prayers, then returning
home for a large breakfast with family
members. The day is spent visiting
relatives and friends and sharing gifts and
sweets with everyone. During the evening,
Pakistanis often party, visit restaurants or
relax in city parks.
On Eid ul-Fitr, money is given for charity
and as gifts to young children.

On Eid ul-Adha, people may also distribute

meat to relatives and neighbors and
donate food to charity.

Milaad un Nabi

Milaad un Nabi is a known religious

festival which is celebrated in all over
Pakistan. The Milaad is the celebration of
the birthday of the Islamic last prophet
Muhammad.

Muharram (Ashura)
Muharram is a month of remembrance
and modern Shia meditation that is often
considered synonymous with Ashura.
Ashura, which literally means the "Tenth" in
Arabic, refers to the tenth day of
Muharram. It is well-known because of
historical significance and mourning for
the martyrdom of Hussein Ibn Ali, the
grandson of Muhammad[7]

Shias begin mourning from the first night

of Muharram and continue for ten nights,
climaxing on the 10th of Muharram, known
as the Day of Ashura. The last few days up
until and including the Day of Ashura are
the most important because these were
the days in which Imam Hussein and his
family and followers (including women,
children, and elderly people) were deprived
of water from the 7th onward and on the
10th, Imam Hussain and 72 of his
followers were martyred by the army of
Yazid I at the Battle of Karbala on Yazid's
orders. The surviving members of Imam
Hussein's family and those of his followers
were taken captive, marched to Damascus,
and imprisoned there.

With the sighting of the new moon, the

Islamic New Year is ushered in. The first
month, Muharram is one of the four sacred
months that [Allah] has mentioned in the
Quran.

Jashn-e-Baharan

Jashn-e-Baharan sometimes referred to as

Basant, is a pre-Islamic Punjabi festival
that marks the coming of spring.
Celebrations in Pakistan are centered in
Lahore, and people from all over the
country and abroad come to the city for
the annual festivities. Kite flying
competitions took place all over the city's
rooftops during Basant but are now
prohibited.[8] The fertile province of Punjab
was intimately tied via its agriculture to the
different seasons of the year. The arrival of
spring was an important event for all
farmers and was welcomed with a
celebration, hence the name Jashn
(celebration) Baharan (spring).

Independence Day

On 14th. August, the people of Pakistan

celebrate the day when Pakistan gained its
independence from British India and
became an independent state for Muslims
of South Asia. The day begins with
gatherings and prayers in mosques all
across Pakistan in which people pray for
the betterment and success of their
country. Early in the morning, a 21 cannon
salute is given to all those who contributed
and lost their lives for attaining
Independence. Flag hoisting ceremonies
are held in the capital Islamabad and all
capital cities of other provinces. Mega-
events are organized all across the
country, in which the people of Pakistan
sing their national anthem and famous
classical and pop singers sing various
patriotic songs. Famous governmental
and private buildings are decorated with
lights and the day is concluded by a
spectacular firework in Major cities of
Pakistan.
Defense Day Parade

September 6 is another patriotic day when

the Army of Pakistan displays Pakistani
weaponry to the general public. All
government officials attend the ceremony
and recognitions are awarded to special
people for their work. In March 2007, the
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) displayed the
new jointly manufactured Chinese-
Pakistani aircraft called the JF-17
Thunder.

Popular media
Television
Traditionally, the government-owned
Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) has
been the dominant media player in
Pakistan. The PTV channels are controlled
by the government and opposition views
are not given much time. The past decade
has seen the emergence of several private
TV channels showing news and
entertainment, such as GEO TV, AAJ TV,
ARY Digital, HUM, MTV Pakistan, and
others. Traditionally the bulk of TV shows
have been plays or soap operas, some of
them critically acclaimed. Various
American, European, Asian TV channels,
and movies are available to a majority of
the population via Cable TV. Television
accounted for almost half of the
advertising expenditure in Pakistan in
2002.[9]

Radio

The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation

(PBC) was formed on 14 August 1947, the
day of Pakistani independence. It was a
direct descendant of the Indian
Broadcasting Company, which later
became All India Radio. At independence,
Pakistan had radio stations in Dhaka,
Lahore, and Peshawar. A major
programme of expansion saw new
stations open at Karachi and Rawalpindi in
1948, and a new broadcasting house at
Karachi in 1950. This was followed by new
radio stations at Hyderabad (1951), Quetta
(1956), the second station at Rawalpindi
(1960), and a receiving center at Peshawar
(1960). During the 1980s and 1990s, the
corporation expanded its network to many
cities and towns of Pakistan to provide
greater service to the local people. Today,
there are over a hundred radio stations due
to more liberal media regulations.

Cinema

Pakistan's movie industry is known as

Lollywood, named after the city of Lahore.
Film production centers also exist in
Karachi and Peshawar. The Pakistani film
industry produces over forty feature-length
films a year. Bollywood films are also
popular in Pakistan but with recent bad
relations with India, they tend to be on the
cinema screen much lesser than they used
to do.

National dress
Muslim girl wearing Shalwar kameez, c. 1870

The national dress is shalwar kameez for

both men and women. It consists of a
long, loose fitting tunic with trousers
baggy enough to not to see the shape of
their legs.[10]

See also
History of Pakistan
Punjabis
Pashtuns
Sindhis
Baloch people
Kashmiris
 Balti people

References
1. Basham, A.L. (1968), Pacific Affairs,
University of British Columbia, 641-643
2. Dehejia, Vidja South Asian Art and
Culture . The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Retrieved on 10 February 2008
3. The Indus Valley And The Genesis Of
South Asian Civilization [1] Retrieved on 6
February 2008
4. Architecture in Pakistan: A Historical
Overview Archived 16 January 2009 at the
Wayback Machine.. All Things Pakistan.
Retrieved on 10 February 2008
5. UNESCO World Heritage State Parties
Pakistan Retrieved 9 July 2010.
6. World Hockey Archived 3 April 2007 at
the Wayback Machine., International
Hockey Federation
7. "Muharram" . 2010-12-08. Retrieved
2010-12-08.
8. "A celebration of spring turns ugly" .
Retrieved 2011-07-07.
9.
http://www.warc.com/LandingPages/Data/
NewspaperTrends/PDF/Pakistan.pdf
Archived 6 October 2007 at the Wayback
Machine.
10. Koerner, Stephanie; Russell, Ian (2010).
Unquiet Pasts: Risk Society, Lived Cultural
Heritage, Re-designing Reflexivity . Ashgate
Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7546-7548-8.

External links
Lahore International Children's Film
Festival
PakVillage.com: Culture, Fashion, Food,
Music of Pakistan
Pakistan Lifestyle, Culture,
Entertainment at OnePakistan.com
Eating places all over Pakistan
Menu Lahore - A blog about eating out in
Lahore
 Sarhad Tourism Corporation, Govt. of
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Pakistan Culture and Environment
A Journal of Pakistan Studies
All About The Culture of Pakistan
Pakistan's Cultural Events Guide
Pakistani News and Events

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