Sindhis take to the streets in celebration

Donning ajrak and traditional caps, dancing crowds observe Sindh Culture Day

KARACHI/HYDERABAD:

Adorned in Sindhi caps, turbans, ajrak and other colours of the culture, Sindhis in the province and across the world celebrated Sindh Culture Day on Sunday. Wishes also poured in from across the globe, even from Turkish star Engin Altan, who played Ertugrul Ghazi’s role in the popular Turkish drama series.

The streets in Sindh’s small towns and big cities seethed with boisterous men, women and children singing, dancing and moving in rallies. Scores of cultural and musical events were also organised to mark the day, while even prisoners in Sindh’s jails were allowed to indulge in the celebration.

The local press clubs served as the converging points for the celebratory crowds. Some travelled in cars, jeeps and motorcycles draped with ajrak and Sindhi caps, roaming around their cities and towns as played cultural songs along the way, while others marched in the crowded rallies.

In Karachi, rallies were held all over the city, with thousands of participants singing folk songs and playing traditional instruments such as shehnai and tambura. Congregations were also held at several other locations, with artists showing off their craft. As evening fell, they turned towards the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and the beach, where the events culminated.

Strict security arrangements were in place with many roads closed off with containers. However, due to the lack of alternative arrangements, vehicles formed long queues at several places, including Governor House and KPC, Fawara Chowk, Metropole, Sharae Faisal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Nipa Chowrangi, Hassan Square and Numaish.

In Hyderabad, the main celebrations took place outside the Hyderabad Press Club, near Sindh Museum and Niaz Cricket Stadium.

Groups of celebratory youth occupied the main squares and intersections, singing and dancing throughout the day. The shops and restaurants also played Sindhi songs to pump up the crowds, while stalls showed off ajraks, traditional caps, waistcoats and handicrafts, relishing the sales.

“As we gear up to celebrate this day, we feel instilled with a revived affinity towards and pride on our culture and civilisation,” said Mehran Chandio, a university student celebrating the day among a horde of rollicking youth in Qasimabad.

Meanwhile, Iftikhar Samo, a political activist, said the day reinforced a sense of brotherhood among Sindh’s people.

“The youth particularly need the moments of fun and indulgence and we are happy that our culture has become a source for such frolicking for us,” commented Seema Laghari, a varsity student. “We feel proud of our culture and enjoy the music, dance and merriment, which are rare the rest of the year.”

People in other districts of Sindh, including Sukkur, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas and Larkana, also celebrated the day with no less enthusiasm

A recent celebration

The festival itself is a relatively recent one, begun during the Pakistan Peoples Party’s rule in 2009. Since then, it has been celebrated on the first Sunday of December every year, with Sindhi people rejoicing in the region’s ancient culture and heritage.

It was kick-started as ‘Sindhi Topi and Ajrak Day’ in 2009, in reaction to criticism of former president Asif Ali Zardari for wearing the Sindhi cap during an official visit to Afghanistan. It was also dubbed as ‘Ekta [unity] Day.’ The terms were coined by journalist Ali Kazi, the first to give the call for observing the day.

Presenting greetings to Sindhis all over the world on the occasion, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali said the day was meant to express love for one’s culture and respect for the cultures of others.

“Sindh is the cradle of beautiful civilisation in the world,” he said, expressing gratitude at being born and bred here. Calling for Sindhis to pledge to highlight their language and traditions on this day, he said the day should be used to mark respect and love for all civilisations, languages and traditions.

 

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2020.