KARACHI:
The 2nd of March marks the Baloch Culture Day, meant to showcase the rich and diverse culture of this brave and loving ethnic community to the whole world. The Baloch people living in Pakistan and outside celebrate this day by wearing traditional dresses comprising knee-long kameez and baggy shalwar, besides covering their head with a turban. They also don traditional sandals made of leather and decorated with cotton yarn in different colours.
On the day, the Baloch people also sing folk songs — such as Lewa and Nazenk — and dance to the tunes of traditional music. Dochapi is one such dance in which the participants move in a circle, clapping their hands at regular intervals. They play musical instruments like Tamboora and Suroz, besides using flute in local variations.
The Baloch are a well-knit community and treat everyone with love, respect and care. They are brave people and history bears testimony to that. They are always available to help others in need.
The Baloch Culture Day is a means of spreading awareness about this colourful culture the world over. More and more people belonging to the Baloch community should celebrate the March 2 occasion so that their language and their culture never fade away.
Najma Muhammad Ramzan
Kech
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2021.
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