Saraiki culture is the culture of the Saraiki speaking people, called as Saraiki people, residing in Pakistan and outside Pakistan. The region where Saraiki is spoken in Pakistan is part of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and has been centre of culture and trade in Indian subcontinent. It has been centre of Sufism after 712 C.E. The region and its people are referred as Wasaib (Saraiki: وسیب) or politically as Saraikistan.
Similarly, Uch Sharif has been the centre of Qadiriyya Sufi order. Allama Iqbal while referring to the two great Sufi saints of Saraiki region, Khwaja Ghulam Farid and Muhammad Suleman Taunsvi, said that this region can not be empty from spirituality. The tomb of Sakhi Sarwar in Dera Ghazi Khan is also very popular shrine in Pakistan.
Some of these are:
There are many beautiful buildings, castles and palaces in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Mankera.
Performed exclusively by men, it is a common feature to see three generations — father, son and grandson — dancing together at weddings. The dance is without acrobatics. Each region of Southern Punjab has its own variation of Jhumar. The movement of the arms only is considered its main forte. Feet are musically placed in front and backwards, and turns are taken to the right. Sometimes the dancers place one hand below the ribs on the left and gesticulate with the right hand. This dance does not tire out its performers, and it is normally danced on moonlight nights in the villages away from the habitation. The dancers let-off a sound, "Dee Dee," in tune with the beat of the dance which adds to its grace.
Normally people sit on charpai and hamacha in the evening and on holidays. There they discuss their daily personal, social and political issues in friendly environment. The biggest charpai of the world is in Dera Ghazi Khan according to Guinness World Records.
History
See also: History of Multan
The roots of Saraiki culture and civilization go back to the distant past related to Indus Valley Civilization. Multan is considered as one of the ancient cities of the world. Greek, Persian, Mongol and Afghan influences were incorporated into the region of Saraiki speaking areas in the history.Religion
Main article: Multan#Culture
Almost 99% population in Saraikistan region is Muslim. Islam came to this region with the Arab conquest of Sindh in eighth century. Majority of Muslims are Sunnis while Shia population is also in considerable size. The region is home to many Sufism.
There is a saying in Persian that Multan is the 'city of dust (because
of its sandy climate), summer, beggars and graveyards' (Gard, Garma, Gada o Goristan).[1] It is also called as the city of saints (madinatul Auliya مدینۃالاولیا). The city has been a focal point for many religions, in particular becoming a central abode for Sufism, the mystical side of Islam. The city has attracted Sufi saints from far places of the globe. Multan has been the centre of Suhrawardiyya, one of the major Sufi orders, called as Tariqa. It has the shrines of Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya and Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam.Similarly, Uch Sharif has been the centre of Qadiriyya Sufi order. Allama Iqbal while referring to the two great Sufi saints of Saraiki region, Khwaja Ghulam Farid and Muhammad Suleman Taunsvi, said that this region can not be empty from spirituality. The tomb of Sakhi Sarwar in Dera Ghazi Khan is also very popular shrine in Pakistan.
Saraiki language
Main article: Saraiki language
Poetry
Saraiki is famous for its Sufi poetry. Khawaja Ghulam Farid (1845-1901), his famous collection is Deewan-e-Farid, and Sachal Sar Mast (1739–1829) are the most celebrated Sufi poets in Saraiki and their poems known as Kafi are still famous.- The beloved's intense glances call for blood
- The dark hair wildly flows The Kohl of the eyes is fiercely black
- And slays the lovers with no excuse
- My appearance in ruins, I sit and wait
- While the beloved has settled in Malheer I feel the sting of the cruel dart
- My heart the, abode of pain and grief A life of tears, I have led Farid
-
- -one of Khwaja Ghulam Farid's poems (translated)
-
- Ejaz Dervi
- Ramzan Gaddi رمضان ڳاݙی (Pir Adil Dera Ghazi Khan)
- Muzaffar Khan Magsi مظفر خان مگسی
- Hamal Leghari (Dewan-i- Hamal)
- Lutf Ali (Saifal Nama)
- Rasheed Khan Qaisrani
- Khurum Bahawalpuri (Khiaban-i-Kurum)
- Safeer Leshari (Vepray)
- Mumtaz Haider Daher (Andharay-de- raat and Kashkool vich samandar)
- Ashoo Lal (Chhero hath nah murli)
- Iqbal Sokri (Kalay Roh, Chitti Baraf)
- Bashir Ghamkhawr
- Mustafa Khadim
- Refat Abbas (Parchhian ute Phul and Sangat Ved)
- Nasrullah Khan Nasir (Ajrak and Aoey Hoey)
- Qais Faridi (Nemro)
- Aman-ullah Arshad
- Naseer Sarmad (Sojhla)
- Saeed Akhtar Sial
- Bakht Fakir of Ahmad pur Lamma
- Ahamad Khan Tariq
- Hazrat Pir Mitha
- Ashaq Buzdar
- Haji Qadir Gurmani
- Nazir Leghari
- Safeer Lashari
- Fayyaz Baqir
- Mustafa Khadim
- Mohsin Naqvi
- Folk or Lok Gawan
- Nawab Wali Laghari
- Ghulam Hussan Taa-ib
- Janbaz Jatoi
- Nasrullah Khan Nasir
- Shamim Aarif Qureshi
- Yaasin Phhirwani
- Jahangir Mukhlis
- Tasleem Feroz
- Zubair Ahmad
- Tahir Shirazi
- Sadiq Junaid Hoat
- Saeed Sanwal
- Ahmad Aqeel
- Irshad Taunsvi
- Ahsan Wagha
- Suleman Sahoo
- Aziz Shahid
- Sajjad Bari
- Ahmad Khan Tariq
- Naseer Sarmad
- Abdul Latif Bhatti
- Riffat Abbas
- Shakir Shujabadi
- Iqbal Sokri
- Ashoo Lal
- Allad Ditta Aashir Ramdani
- Khalail Ahmad Faridi Dajal
Saraiki folklore
Saraiki areas in the south are equally rich in folklore.
Saraiki singers
More than a thousand Saraiki singers are performing in Saraiki Mushaira (TP), Best of Saraiki and Punjabi Eid Gift 2012, Radio and Television,[3][4][5]Some of these are:
- Abida Parveen
- Afshan Zebi
- Ahmad Khan Malangi
- Ahmad Nawaz Cheena
- Ajmal Sajid
- Akram Rahi
- Allah Ditta Loney Wala
- Allah Ditta Panchi
- Amjad Nawaz Karloo
- Anmol Sayal
- Asad abbas multani
- Ashraf Litti
- Ashraf Mirza
- Attaullah and Heem Lata
- Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi
- Azhar Abbas Khushabi
- Babar Niazi - Javed Niazi
- Bashir Ahmad Mukhlis
- Bushra sadiq
- Chan sharmila
- Ejaz Rahi
- Farah Laal
- Gul Tari Khelvi
- Haseena Mumtaz
- Hamid Jamshed
- Humera Channa
- Hussain Bandyalvi
- Imran niazi
- Iqbal Hussain Pappu
- Irshad Hussain Tedi
- Jaspinder Narula
- Jumman Khan
- Komal Noor
- Kosar Japani
- Lal pari
- Malkoo
- Mansoor Malangi
- Manzoor hussain tharaj
- Mastana Parwana
- Miss Badro Multani
- Nadeem Abbas
- Naeem Hazara
- Naseebo Laal
- Nazakat Ali Papu
- Nooran Laal
- Pathany Khan
- Rashid Ali Warburtun
- Riaz Mahi
- Rohan Abbas
- Rukhsana Hazara
- Sain Zahoor
- Sajid Ali Khan Multani
- Saleem Akhtar Saleemi
- Sanam Afreen
- Shabnam Majeed
- Shafaullah Khan Rokhri
- Shafqat Abbas Shafqat
- Shahid Abbas Shehdi
- Shazia Khushk
- Shahzia Naaz
- Shahzia Rani
- Shakeel Awan
- Sharafat Ali Tari Khelvi
- Shehnaz Pakistani
- Shehzada Asif Ali
- Shehzadi Irum Sayal
- Shoukat Ali Raja
- Sunbul Raja
- Sunny Iqbal
- Sorayya Multanikar
- Tahir Mehmood Nayyar
- Taj Multani
- Talib Hussain Dard
- Taslim Shehzadi
- Wajid Ali Baghdadi
- Yasir Khan Moosa Khelvi
- Zahoor Mirza
- Zain Ali
- Zahida Parveen
- Zulfiqar zulfi
Architecture
Multan is one of the oldest cities in South Asia, with many tombs, shrines, temples, cathedrals and mausoleums, as well as a historical fort. Today Multan is a combination of old and the new Pakistan culture. There is a big hustle bustle in the old city and comfort of a five star hotel and fine dining in the new. The old city has a various bazaars selling mystical artifacts, perfumes to arts and crafts. There are also elaborately decorated shrines of the Sufi saints, tombs of various travellers and important people within the old city of Multan. The prime attractions of Multan are its mausoleums of Sufi saints. The Mausoleum of Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya, as well as the Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam are the prime attractions of the city. Their lofty domes of are visible, from miles and dominate the skyline of Multan. Another popular shrine is the Mausoleum of Shams-ud-Din, commonly known as Shah Shamsuddin Sabzwari is located about half a mile to the east of the Multan Fort, on the high bank of the old bed of the Ravi River. Another famous and beautiful mausoleum of a warrior sufi saint and poet Hazrat Hafiz Muhammad Jamal Multani (1747-1811 AD) is situated near Aam Khas garden outside Daulat Gate, Multan.There are many beautiful buildings, castles and palaces in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Mankera.
Saraiki Dresses : Saraikies & Saraikian's Life Style
People usually wear Shalwar kameez, which is the national dress of Pakistan. The traditional male dress is Lungi with Chola (kameez).The tradition male dresses suthaNrshalwar, Ghayiroli Saraiki Shalwar SuthaNrShalwar,The tradition put Rumal or Pashmina or Shaal on shoulder .Shalwar with Kamez. Chadar is also an important part of male and female dress. Women wear bochanrr and men wear Patka on the head. Women also used to wear ghagra but it is not used only for wedding and partiesSaraiki cuisine
Flowers of Sohanjrraan or Sohanjna (Moringa oleifera) is one of the most famous vegetable dish in South Punjab. Sohan Halwa is traditional sweet made by boiling a mixture of water, sugar, milk and cornflour until it becomes solid.Traditional Saraiki sports
Geeti Danna (Saraiki: ڳیٹی ݙنڈا)is one of the famous traditional sports especially for boys in rural areas along with other sports like Baandar Killa [باندر کلّا], Pittu Garam [پٹّو گرم], Stapu [سٹاپو] and Kabaddi [کبڈی].Jhumar
See also: Jhumar
Jhumar
or Jhoomar is the traditional Saraiki folk dance. It is a lively form
of music and dance that originated in the Multan and Balochistan. It is
slow and rhythmic. The word "Jhumar" comes from jhum/jhoom, which means
swaying. The songs evoke a quality reminiscent of swaying. The content
of these songs is varied; they are usually love with emotional songs,
too. The Jhumar is a dance of ecstasy. Jhumar is performed usually at
the wedding ceremonies. It is a living demonstration of the happiness.
The dance is mostly performed by the Balochi and Saraiki people of
Southern Punjab. The emphasis of Jhumar is recreating the gaits of
animals and birds. The movement of animals, the ploughing of the field,
sowing of seeds and harvesting are shown in the original progression.
The dance is also performed in circle, to the tune of emotional songs.Performed exclusively by men, it is a common feature to see three generations — father, son and grandson — dancing together at weddings. The dance is without acrobatics. Each region of Southern Punjab has its own variation of Jhumar. The movement of the arms only is considered its main forte. Feet are musically placed in front and backwards, and turns are taken to the right. Sometimes the dancers place one hand below the ribs on the left and gesticulate with the right hand. This dance does not tire out its performers, and it is normally danced on moonlight nights in the villages away from the habitation. The dancers let-off a sound, "Dee Dee," in tune with the beat of the dance which adds to its grace.
Saraiki music
See also: Music of Pakistan#Saraiki and Saraiki
Saraiki
folk music revolves around the desert's beauty and following are the
famous Saraiki singers who perform folk and Sufi music.- Attaullah Khan Essa Khailwi
- Pathanay Khan
- Abida Parveen
- Ustad Muhammad Juman
- Suraiya Multanikar
- Mansoor Malangi
- Ahmed Nawaz Cheena
- Talib Hussain Dard
- Kamal Mahsud[6]
- The Sketches (band)
Charpai and Hamacha
In the city there is Charpai, locally known as khatt کھٹ and Hamacha culture ماچا. Charpai and Hamacha means a big wooden cart, which are kepts at Chowks and Baithaks. You can find these Hamachas in every chowks, baithaks and wisakh.Normally people sit on charpai and hamacha in the evening and on holidays. There they discuss their daily personal, social and political issues in friendly environment. The biggest charpai of the world is in Dera Ghazi Khan according to Guinness World Records.
Fairs and festivals
See also: Dera Ghazi Khan#Culture
Seasonal festivals are very common especially in rural areas.See also
- Saraiki language
- Saraiki literature
- Saraiki people
- Saraikistan
- List of Seraiki tribes
- Indus Valley Civilization
- Jhumar
- Multan
