Culture
Pakistan is a Muslim country and Islam is the official religion. Islam is the religion which is professed and practiced by the people of Pakistan.
Pakistani culture can be called as “Mixed Culture”. Although the majority of people in Pakistan are Muslims by birth and faith, there is a strong influence of Hindu culture on the present Pakistani culture. The shadows of this influence are quite visible on the marriage ceremonies and festivals like “Basant”.
Dowry Systems and heavy expenditures on the marriage of girls is done, which is inherited from Hindu society because in Hindu society there is no share of women in the inheritance of their parents. Although women are given a share in the inheritance of their parents in Pakistani society, there are huge expenditures on the marriages of daughters.
English is the official language in Pakistan, but the national language is Urdu, which is widely spoken and understood throughout the country. Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi, Baluchi and Kashmiri are the regional languages.
Pakistani society is a “Male Oriented Society”, where they are given full protection and great respect. The family is headed by a male member, usually the oldest male member of the group. He guides the other members. Old people are given positions of prestige, honor and respect in Pakistani culture.
Social life is simple. Social customs and traditions reflect Islamic touch: people are very much conscious about their social traditions and feel pride in following them.
Dress in a Muslim society like Pakistan is designed and intended to cover human body, as nudity is prohibited in Islam. So, people of Pakistan prefer to wear simple dresses according to their climate.
Pakistani handicrafts are gaining popularity in the world market day by day, as Pakistani craftsman are considered as the best in their craftsmanship. Pakistan is famous for its high standard items of glass, silver, wooden furniture, pottery, marble goods and things made of camel skin.
Cricket, Hockey, Football, Kabbadi, squash, badminton, and wrestling are the major sports in Pakistan.
Ulema, Mushaikh and Sufi poets occupy highly honored places in Pakistani culture. People of Pakistan are extremely humble simple and Islamic people. Image of Islam portrayed by the terrorist as Islam is to tarnish the name of the Last Religion.
In Pakistan you can clearly see the real image of simple and pure people and understand what the basis of Islam really are. The Pakistani Society runs around the reigns of Islam, not that people understand Islam very well but well at least try to do as much as they can to be good.
Following things are to be known about the people in Pakistan:
The National Dress of People is Shalwar Kameez.
The National Language is Urdu, Official Language is English, The Regional Languages are Numerous for Example Punjabi in Punjab, Sindi in Sind, Balochi or Brahwi in Balochistan.
People in Pakistan are very very much linked together by family bonds or by the place where they live or just friendship. Specially in Lahore. They live in Large Families and are very proud of their family background like the British. Such a bond only exists between our people who keep others interests above their personal interests.
The western concept of clubs is so well implemented in the local cultures of the Pakistani People that they are asked to come to a community center Five times a day and that is what is called the Mosque. Where we go to say our prayer five times a day and meet those people who live in the same community and socialize. Then every one also gathers at community centers and socialize and further listen to the state sermon.
Folk Dances of Punjab:
Folk dances are performed for many reasons: to celebrate harvest and seasonal festivals, the birth of a child, a wedding; as part of spiritual or religious ritual, and to share community knowledge. The dances are often designed for group participation, with simple steps or movements and a loose structure. Depending on the community and the purpose of the dance, men and women perform some dances exclusively, while in some performances men and women dance together.
In Pakistan, like many other countries around the world with rich folkloric traditions, folktales, music, and dance are often inextricably intertwined. Each region of Pakistan has its own native form of traditional dance, often performed in conjunction with—at times inseparable from—folk music, whose origins can be traced back for many centuries.
Bhangra
Originally, Punjabis performed Bhangra to celebrate the sucess of the harvest. Now people perform Bhangra at wedding parties, receptions, birthdays, competitions, and other happy occations. On the day of Baisakhi, April 13, many farmers, engineers, teachers, shop owners, and other sorts of people perform Bhangra. In the villages, with large drums, called dhols, people circle round and round leaping and laughing. Persons of all types of social classes perform Bhangra together. Even the elders occationally join the young to celebrate and dance Bhangra.
Thanks for Courtesy www.meraraabta.com
Gidda
Giddha is a popular folk dance of women in Punjab and exhibits teasing, fun and exuberance of Punjabi life. Gidda dance is just as energetic as bhangra and at the same time it manages to creatively display feminine grace and elasticity. Giddha is essentially danced in circles. Girls form rings and one of the dancers sit in the centre of this ring with a dholki (drum). Just as in bhangra, one girl comes forward and sings a boli (verse). As she comes to the end of it, the others pick up the refrain and join. Most commonly girls dance in twos.
Gidda dance is stylistically simple. Jingle of the bells, thumping of the feet, beat of the drum and the resplendence of Punjabi women in salwar kameej creates an enchanting atmosphere for it. What makes Giddha so popular is that it is not performed according to any cut-and-dried rule. Harmony is the essence in gidda movements that are inclusive of swinging and twisting the body, shaking of the shoulders, bending to a double and clapping. Giddha dance incorporate village life scenes of woman spinning, fetching water from the well and grinding. This is accompanied with appropriate boli and songs.
Women have a different but no less exuberant dance called gidda. The dancers enact verses called bolis, which represent folk poetry at its best. The subject matter of these bolis is wide ranging indeed – everything from arguments with the sister-in-law to political affairs figure in these lively songs. Aside from the drums, the rhythm of this dance is set by the distinctive hand-claps of the dancers.
Jhumar
Jhumar (meaning going swaying from side to side) is danced in southern Punjab and Sindh. Jhumar is danced in a circle with the drummer in the middle, accompanied by singing and clapping that is synchronized with the movement of the feet, the twirling of the body and the rhythm of the beat. As the dance progresses, the participants break into different patterns until a crescendo is reached and the circle is re-formed through a graduated process of reversal. While popular with women, the Jhumar is danced with greater vigour by men, often on dark nights by the light of torches.
Luddi
Another Punabi dance is the luddi, a celebratory dance traditionally performed by men after a victory over a rival group. In the old days, it celebrated a victory in a skirmish between warring parties; today, it is performed after winning a football match or a sports event. Men form a line and dance with swooping downward movements while snapping their fingers as their arms swing from side to side.
Julli
This dance associated with Muslim holymen called pirs and is generally danced in their hermitages (khangahs). This dance is mostly performed in sitting posture, sometimes it is also danced around the grave of a preceptor. A single dancer can also perform this dance. Normally the dancer wears black.
Gaatka
Also called the dankara dance, this is a dance of celebration. Two men, each holding colourful staves, dance round each other and tap their sticks together in rhythm with the drums. This dance is often part of marriage celebrations.
Dhamal
During religious festivals, everyone–men and women–dance the dhammaal, a devotional dance with high stepping and hands raised above the head, the index finger pointing at the sky to indicate the unity of all creation. The dhamaal is driven by the beat of a large double-headed drum carved out of a hollow tree trunk with goatskins stretched across the heads.
Sammi
The sammi is danced on the plateau of Upper Punjab and is also the name of the tune and folk song linked to it. Originally danced under the full moon by unmarried girls, it is now danced separately by both men and women. Clapping of hands in time to the beat of the drum, dancers form a circle while verses from the ancient sammi song are sung to its tune. The dance starts in a slow and measured manner, gently speeding up as it progresses.
Jaago
Literally, "wake up!" When there’s a marriage in the house, girls dance through the village streets carrying a pot (gaggar) decorated with lightened candles and singing jaagu songs. The theme of song in the ‘Jago’ is social and typically a bit of teasing (often aimed at elders) goes with the song.
Kikli
Kikli, usually danced in the Punjab by pairs of teenage girls, consists of a whirling movement to the rhythm of a song of the same name sung to a two- beat pattern. Two partners stand facing each other holding each other’s hands with their arms crossed and the toes of their feet touching one another. They lean back and begin whirling together. The dance continues until one of the partners gets dizzy and drops out.
Pakistani culture can be called as “Mixed Culture”. Although the majority of people in Pakistan are Muslims by birth and faith, there is a strong influence of Hindu culture on the present Pakistani culture. The shadows of this influence are quite visible on the marriage ceremonies and festivals like “Basant”.
Dowry Systems and heavy expenditures on the marriage of girls is done, which is inherited from Hindu society because in Hindu society there is no share of women in the inheritance of their parents. Although women are given a share in the inheritance of their parents in Pakistani society, there are huge expenditures on the marriages of daughters.
English is the official language in Pakistan, but the national language is Urdu, which is widely spoken and understood throughout the country. Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi, Baluchi and Kashmiri are the regional languages.
Pakistani society is a “Male Oriented Society”, where they are given full protection and great respect. The family is headed by a male member, usually the oldest male member of the group. He guides the other members. Old people are given positions of prestige, honor and respect in Pakistani culture.
Social life is simple. Social customs and traditions reflect Islamic touch: people are very much conscious about their social traditions and feel pride in following them.
Dress in a Muslim society like Pakistan is designed and intended to cover human body, as nudity is prohibited in Islam. So, people of Pakistan prefer to wear simple dresses according to their climate.
Pakistani handicrafts are gaining popularity in the world market day by day, as Pakistani craftsman are considered as the best in their craftsmanship. Pakistan is famous for its high standard items of glass, silver, wooden furniture, pottery, marble goods and things made of camel skin.
Cricket, Hockey, Football, Kabbadi, squash, badminton, and wrestling are the major sports in Pakistan.
Ulema, Mushaikh and Sufi poets occupy highly honored places in Pakistani culture. People of Pakistan are extremely humble simple and Islamic people. Image of Islam portrayed by the terrorist as Islam is to tarnish the name of the Last Religion.
In Pakistan you can clearly see the real image of simple and pure people and understand what the basis of Islam really are. The Pakistani Society runs around the reigns of Islam, not that people understand Islam very well but well at least try to do as much as they can to be good.
Following things are to be known about the people in Pakistan:
The National Dress of People is Shalwar Kameez.
The National Language is Urdu, Official Language is English, The Regional Languages are Numerous for Example Punjabi in Punjab, Sindi in Sind, Balochi or Brahwi in Balochistan.
People in Pakistan are very very much linked together by family bonds or by the place where they live or just friendship. Specially in Lahore. They live in Large Families and are very proud of their family background like the British. Such a bond only exists between our people who keep others interests above their personal interests.
The western concept of clubs is so well implemented in the local cultures of the Pakistani People that they are asked to come to a community center Five times a day and that is what is called the Mosque. Where we go to say our prayer five times a day and meet those people who live in the same community and socialize. Then every one also gathers at community centers and socialize and further listen to the state sermon.
Folk Dances of Punjab:
Folk dances are performed for many reasons: to celebrate harvest and seasonal festivals, the birth of a child, a wedding; as part of spiritual or religious ritual, and to share community knowledge. The dances are often designed for group participation, with simple steps or movements and a loose structure. Depending on the community and the purpose of the dance, men and women perform some dances exclusively, while in some performances men and women dance together.
In Pakistan, like many other countries around the world with rich folkloric traditions, folktales, music, and dance are often inextricably intertwined. Each region of Pakistan has its own native form of traditional dance, often performed in conjunction with—at times inseparable from—folk music, whose origins can be traced back for many centuries.
Bhangra
Originally, Punjabis performed Bhangra to celebrate the sucess of the harvest. Now people perform Bhangra at wedding parties, receptions, birthdays, competitions, and other happy occations. On the day of Baisakhi, April 13, many farmers, engineers, teachers, shop owners, and other sorts of people perform Bhangra. In the villages, with large drums, called dhols, people circle round and round leaping and laughing. Persons of all types of social classes perform Bhangra together. Even the elders occationally join the young to celebrate and dance Bhangra.
Thanks for Courtesy www.meraraabta.com
Gidda
Giddha is a popular folk dance of women in Punjab and exhibits teasing, fun and exuberance of Punjabi life. Gidda dance is just as energetic as bhangra and at the same time it manages to creatively display feminine grace and elasticity. Giddha is essentially danced in circles. Girls form rings and one of the dancers sit in the centre of this ring with a dholki (drum). Just as in bhangra, one girl comes forward and sings a boli (verse). As she comes to the end of it, the others pick up the refrain and join. Most commonly girls dance in twos.
Gidda dance is stylistically simple. Jingle of the bells, thumping of the feet, beat of the drum and the resplendence of Punjabi women in salwar kameej creates an enchanting atmosphere for it. What makes Giddha so popular is that it is not performed according to any cut-and-dried rule. Harmony is the essence in gidda movements that are inclusive of swinging and twisting the body, shaking of the shoulders, bending to a double and clapping. Giddha dance incorporate village life scenes of woman spinning, fetching water from the well and grinding. This is accompanied with appropriate boli and songs.
Women have a different but no less exuberant dance called gidda. The dancers enact verses called bolis, which represent folk poetry at its best. The subject matter of these bolis is wide ranging indeed – everything from arguments with the sister-in-law to political affairs figure in these lively songs. Aside from the drums, the rhythm of this dance is set by the distinctive hand-claps of the dancers.
Jhumar
Jhumar (meaning going swaying from side to side) is danced in southern Punjab and Sindh. Jhumar is danced in a circle with the drummer in the middle, accompanied by singing and clapping that is synchronized with the movement of the feet, the twirling of the body and the rhythm of the beat. As the dance progresses, the participants break into different patterns until a crescendo is reached and the circle is re-formed through a graduated process of reversal. While popular with women, the Jhumar is danced with greater vigour by men, often on dark nights by the light of torches.
Luddi
Another Punabi dance is the luddi, a celebratory dance traditionally performed by men after a victory over a rival group. In the old days, it celebrated a victory in a skirmish between warring parties; today, it is performed after winning a football match or a sports event. Men form a line and dance with swooping downward movements while snapping their fingers as their arms swing from side to side.
Julli
This dance associated with Muslim holymen called pirs and is generally danced in their hermitages (khangahs). This dance is mostly performed in sitting posture, sometimes it is also danced around the grave of a preceptor. A single dancer can also perform this dance. Normally the dancer wears black.
Gaatka
Also called the dankara dance, this is a dance of celebration. Two men, each holding colourful staves, dance round each other and tap their sticks together in rhythm with the drums. This dance is often part of marriage celebrations.
Dhamal
During religious festivals, everyone–men and women–dance the dhammaal, a devotional dance with high stepping and hands raised above the head, the index finger pointing at the sky to indicate the unity of all creation. The dhamaal is driven by the beat of a large double-headed drum carved out of a hollow tree trunk with goatskins stretched across the heads.
Sammi
The sammi is danced on the plateau of Upper Punjab and is also the name of the tune and folk song linked to it. Originally danced under the full moon by unmarried girls, it is now danced separately by both men and women. Clapping of hands in time to the beat of the drum, dancers form a circle while verses from the ancient sammi song are sung to its tune. The dance starts in a slow and measured manner, gently speeding up as it progresses.
Jaago
Literally, "wake up!" When there’s a marriage in the house, girls dance through the village streets carrying a pot (gaggar) decorated with lightened candles and singing jaagu songs. The theme of song in the ‘Jago’ is social and typically a bit of teasing (often aimed at elders) goes with the song.
Kikli
Kikli, usually danced in the Punjab by pairs of teenage girls, consists of a whirling movement to the rhythm of a song of the same name sung to a two- beat pattern. Two partners stand facing each other holding each other’s hands with their arms crossed and the toes of their feet touching one another. They lean back and begin whirling together. The dance continues until one of the partners gets dizzy and drops out.