The society and culture of Pakistan comprises numerous ethnic groups: the
Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis in east, Muhajirs, Makrani in the south; Baloch
and Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic, Wakhi, Baltistani and Burusho
communities in the north. The culture of these Pakistani ethnic groups have been
greatly influenced by many of its neighbors, such as the other South
Asians, Turkic peoples as well as the peoples of Central Asia and the Middle
East. The origins of the current Pakistani
culture can be traced back to the Indus Valley civilization, which was
contemporaneous with the ancient Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations,
around 5500 years ago. The region has formed a distinct unit within the main
geographical complex of South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia from the
earliest times, and is analogous to the position of Afghanistan. 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.
Literature 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, Balochi, 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 regions 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 Dr. Allama
Iqbal, Meer Taqi Meer, Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Faraz, Habib
Jalib, Jazib Qureshi, and Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi. 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. Poetry in the form of marsia salam and naath is
also very popular among many Pakistanis. Performing arts
= Music= 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
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 Afghani musicians and a distribution
center for Afghani music abroad. = Dances=
Kathak -classical dance that developed in the royal courts of the Mughals.
Folk dances are still popular in Pakistan and vary according to region
such as: Punjab
Bhangra - Punjab Luddi - Punjab
Sammi - Punjab Jhumar - Saraiki, Punjabi and Balochi
folk dance Balochistan
Lewa - Baluch folk dance from Makran region
Chap - Baluch folk dance performed at weddings
Jhumar - Saraiki, Punjabi 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
Gumhar and Gatka - Popular dance of hazara division Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Chitrali Dance - Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 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 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 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. 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. However, a
smooth transition to predominantly picture-less Islamic architecture
occurred. The town of Uch Sharif contains the tombs of Bibi Jawindi,
Baha'al-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. 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. 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.
Pakistan has also won the Hockey World Cup four times. 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, modelled 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 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. 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. There are also
local forms of grilled meat or kebabs, 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 and self-discipline.
It is widely observed by Pakistan's Muslim majority. Muslims during this
month will fast, attend mosques with increased frequency,and offer
"Namaz-travi" 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, all Muslims aftar there fast
with the Date. = 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 colourful 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 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 Ishmael 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 for charity.
= Milaad un Nabi= Milaad un Nabi is a known religious
festival which is celebrated in many parts of Pakistan. The Milaad is the
celebration for the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
= Muharram= 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 Prophet
Muhammad. 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 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. 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 Baharan.
= Christmas= Christmas is usually celebrated by
Pakistani Christians who account more than 3 percent of Pakistan and mostly
reside in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Other Pakistanis also commemorate this
event to promote inter-communal harmony. = 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 subcontinent. 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 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 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 displayed the new jointly
manufactured Chinese-Pakistani aircraft called the JF-17 Thunder.
Popular media = Television=
Traditionally, the government-owned Pakistan Television Corporation 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. = Radio=
The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation 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, Quetta, a second station at Rawalpindi, and a receiving centre at
Peshawar. 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 centres 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.
National dress The national dress is shalwar qameez for
both men and women. It consists of a long, loose fitting tunic with trousers
baggy enough to not see the shape of their legs.
See also History of Pakistan
Punjabi people Pushtun people
Sindhi people Baloch people
Kashmiri people Balti people
References 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