Culture of Pakistan
The culture of Pakistan, although relatively diverse depending on
which one of Pakistan's provinces, has been greatly influenced by the
cultures of Central Asia and the Middle East. Pakistan is the home of
many ancient civilizations, including the Indus Valley Civilization that
influenced the cultures of the rest of South Asia. Many cultural
practices and monuments have been inherited from the rule of many rulers
of the region that have added their cultural traditions to the region.
One of the most influenced cultures being the Mughals.
Pakistan has a rich cultural and traditional background going back to
Indus Valley Civilization, 2800 BC – 1800 BC. The region of Pakistan
has been invaded in the past, occupied and settled by many different
people, including Aryans, Greeks, White Huns, Persians, Arabs, Turks,
Mongols and various Eurasian groups. And indeed the region has formed a
distinct cultural unit within the main cultural complex of South Asia
from prehistoric times. There are differences in culture among the
different ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion,
especially where pre-Islamic customs differ from Islamic practices. The
cultural origins come from the civilizations of the Mughal empire and
eastern Afghanistan, with significant influences from Persia, Turkestan
and Hellenistic Greece. However, it was the first part of the
subcontinent to receive the full impact of Islam. Hence it has developed
an identity of its own.
Ancient sites in Pakistan include Buddhist monuments, Zorastrian/Hindu/Buddhist temples, Palaces and Monuments built by Emperors, tombs, pleasure grounds and Anglo-Mogul mansions - some in a state of dereliction which makes their former grandeur more emphatic. Sculpture is dominated by Graeco-Buddhist friezes, and crafts by ceramics, jewellery, silk goods and engraved woodwork and metalwork.
Pakistani society is largely multilingual and multicultural. Though
cultures within the country differ to some extenct, more similarities
than differences can be found as most Pakistanis are of mainly Aryan
heritage. However, over 50 years of integration, a distinctive
"Pakistani" Culture has sprung up especially in the urban areas.
Religious practices of various faiths are an integral part of everyday
life in society. Education is highly regarded by members of every
socio-economic stratum. The traditional family values are highly
respected and considered sacred, although urban families have grown into
a nuclear family system, owing to the socio-economic constraints
imposed by the traditional joint family system.
The past few decades have seen emergence of a middle class in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Abbottabad and Multan. The North-western part of Pakistan, bordering with Afghanistan, is highly conservative and dominated by regional tribal customs dating back hundreds of years.
Pakistani literature, that is, the literature of Pakistan, as a distinct
lite gained its nationhood as a sovereign state in 1947. The common and
shared tradition of Urdu literature and English literature of the South
Asia was inherited by the new state. Over a period of time, a body of
literature unique to Pakistan has emerged in nearly all major Pakistani
languages, including Urdu, English, Punjabi, Pushto and Sindhi.
The Urdu language has an old tradition of poetry and includes famous
poets as Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmad Faiz national Poet of
Pakistan. Apart from Urdu poetry Pakistani poetry also has many blends
of other languages. Balochi Poetry, Persian poetry, English poetry,
Punjabi poetry and Kashmiri poetry have all incoroprated and have
influenced the different kinds of poetry in the region.
These are very similar to stage plays in theatres. They are performed by
many well-known actors and actresses in the Lollywood industry. The are
many types of themes that are brought across with lots of humour. The
themes that are bought across ranges from a huge range of events that
taken place in ones life.
The official and national sport of Pakistan is field hockey, although squash and cricket are also very popular. The national cricket team has won the Cricket World Cup once (in 1992), were runners-up once (in 1999) and co-hosted the games twice (in 1987 and 1996). The team has also won the Australasia Cup in 1986, 1990, and 1994. The country will also be hosting the 2011 Cricket World Cup with India and Bangladesh. At an international level, Pakistan has competed many times at the Summer Olympics in field hockey, boxing, athletics, swimming, and shooting. Hockey is the sport that Pakistan has been most successful at the Olympics, with three gold medals (1960, 1968, 1984). Pakistan has also won the Hockey World Cup four times (1971, 1978, 1982, 1994). Pakistan has hosted several international competitions, including the SAFG 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 more closer to the northern areas too. Also, it is hoped that Pakistan will fare better in the Football World Cup qualifiers for 2010.
The culinary art in Pakistan comprises a mix of Middle Eastern, Indian, Persian, and Turkish cuisine that reflects the country's history as well as the variation of cooking practices from across the surrounding regions. Urban centres of the country offer an amalgamation of recipes from all parts of the country whereas food with specific local ingredients and tastes is available in rural areas and villages. Besides the main dishes of curry with or withour meat cooked in vegetables or lentils, there are a number of provincial specialties such as karahi, shab degh, sajji etc. served in various forms, flavours and tastes and are eaten alongside Basmati rice or a variety of breads. There are also local forms of grilled meat or Kebabs, desserts as well as hot and cold drinks.
The two Eids, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha commemorate the passing of the
month of fasting, Ramadan, and the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to
sacrifice his son Prophet Ishmael for God. During these days there are
national holidays and many festivals and events 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 people hit the town for some
partying, going to restaurants or relaxing in city parks.
On Eid ul-Fitr poor people are given some money as a form of charity and as gifts to young children.
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 Prophet Muhammad
Jashn-e-Baharan also 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 take
place all over the city's rooftops during Basant. The fertile province
of Panjab 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 origins of
Jashn (celebration) Baharan (spring).
This festival is like Norouz of Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. In
Northern Pakistan (Gilgit, Baltistan) Norouz is celebrated as a
socio-religious festival. It is also celebrated with much fervour in
Balochistan and in the urban centres of Karachi and Lahore. The day
falls on 23rd of March but the celeberation continues for weeks. In
Baltistan, the main feature of Norouz is gifting of coloured eggs to
friends and polo matches. While in Balochistan, the festival is marked
with outdoor feasts, and the traditional jumping over a fire to wash
away sins and usher in a fresh start. The origins of this festival are
pre-Islamic and date back to when Pakistan was part of the
Achaemenid/Persian empire for several thousand years.
On August 14, every year all over Pakistan, the people of Pakistan
celebrate the day Pakistan gained its independence from the British Raj
for an independent state for Muslims. There are lots of celebrations all
over the country, the streets are full of joyful people singing and
dancing. Concerts are held with many pop and classical singers. Parades
are held in the capital city (Islamabad). All over the country people
decorate their house with colourful decorations. Flags fly on top of
each house. At night, fireworks are done in many cities. On this day
people pray for the country and think how proud they are to be
Pakistanis.
September 6 is another patriotic day, when the Army of Pakistan is put
on display for the general public to show Pakistan arms. All Government
officials attend the ceremony and medals and recognitions are awarded to
special people for their work. In 2007, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will
put on display the new joint manufactured Chinese-Pakistan aircraft
called the JF-17 Thunder. The aircraft will also take part in the fly
past during the parade.
After independence, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) was the sole
radio channel in Pakistan during 1947. The Pakistan Broadcasting
Corporation was formed on 14th August 1947 when Pakistan became
independent. It was a direct descendant of the Indian Broadcasting
Company which later became All India Radio. At independence Pakistan
possessed three radio stations at Dhaka, Lahore and Peshawar. A major
programme of expansion saw new stations opened at Karachi and Rawalpindi
in 1948, and a new broadcasting house at Karachi in 1950. This was
followed by new radio stations at Hyderabad (1951), Quetta (1956), a
second station at Rawalpindi (1960) and a receiving centre at Peshawar
(1960). During the 1980s and 1990s the corporation expanded its netwrok
to many cities and towns of Pakistan to provide more to the local
people. Today, there are over a hundred radio stations due to more
liberal media regulations.
An indigenous movie industry exists in Pakistan, and is known as
"Lollywood" as it is based in Lahore, producing over forty
feature-length films a year. In contrast, Indian movies are popular in
Pakistan despite a ban since the Pakistan-India War in 1965, however due
to the massive film piracy industry in Pakistan, bollywood films (and
American hollywood films) have made it to Pakistani movie shelves and
home videos for over thirty years. The Lollywood industry used to
produce many Urdu films however as Lahore became the headquarters of the
film industry, slowly the number of Urdu films decreased with the same
rate of Punjabi language rising.
Pakistan also has another film industry based in Peshawar, North West
Frontier Province that produced Pashto language films. As demand for
films has increased, Karachi has its own version of film festivals,
which includes the Kara Film Festivals where many film producers, actors
and film staff get together to celebrate achievements in the industry.
One of the most familiar sights in Pakistan, is that traditionally Pakistani men wear Shalwar Kameez. They come in many different styles, fabrics, colours and patterns that make them look really stylish. Pakistani women also wear Shalwar kameez no matter what province they are from. However, many women from the Sindh province wear ghagra varying from different styles and colours. Pakistani women wear an elaborate and heavily embroidered dress known as gharara on their wedding days. The Sherwani or Achkan with Karakuli hat is the national dress of Pakistan for men, as it is not specifically associated with any of the provinces. Most government officials wear the formal black Sherwani on state occasions.
Increasing globalization has amplified the influence of "Western culture" in Pakistan. Pakistan ranks 46th in the world on the Kearney/FP Globalization index. Many Western restaurant chains have established their franchises in Pakistan, and are found in the major cities and towns. A large Pakistani diaspora exists in the West. Whereas Pakistanis in the United States, Canada and Australia tend to be professionals, the majority of them in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavia originally came from a rural background belonging to the working class. A large number of Pakistani expatriates are also living in the Middle East. These emigrants and their children influence Pakistan culturally and economically, keeping close ties with their roots by travelling to Pakistan and especially by returning or investing there.
Rich Cultural and Traditional Background
Pakistan has a rich cultural and traditional background going back to
Indus Valley Civilization, 2800 BC – 1800 BC. The region of Pakistan
has been invaded in the past, occupied and settled by many different
people, including Aryans, Greeks, White Huns, Persians, Arabs, Turks,
Mongols and various Eurasian groups. And indeed the region has formed a
distinct cultural unit within the main cultural complex of South Asia
from prehistoric times. There are differences in culture among the
different ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion,
especially where pre-Islamic customs differ from Islamic practices. The
cultural origins come from the civilizations of the Mughal empire and
eastern Afghanistan, with significant influences from Persia, Turkestan
and Hellenistic Greece. However, it was the first part of the
subcontinent to receive the full impact of Islam. Hence it has developed
an identity of its own.
Ancient sites in Pakistan include Buddhist monuments, Zorastrian/Hindu/Buddhist temples, Palaces and Monuments built by Emperors, tombs, pleasure grounds and Anglo-Mogul mansions - some in a state of dereliction which makes their former grandeur more emphatic. Sculpture is dominated by Graeco-Buddhist friezes, and crafts by ceramics, jewellery, silk goods and engraved woodwork and metalwork.
Pakistani Society
Pakistani society is largely multilingual and multicultural. Though
cultures within the country differ to some extenct, more similarities
than differences can be found as most Pakistanis are of mainly Aryan
heritage. However, over 50 years of integration, a distinctive
"Pakistani" Culture has sprung up especially in the urban areas.
Religious practices of various faiths are an integral part of everyday
life in society. Education is highly regarded by members of every
socio-economic stratum. The traditional family values are highly
respected and considered sacred, although urban families have grown into
a nuclear family system, owing to the socio-economic constraints
imposed by the traditional joint family system.
The past few decades have seen emergence of a middle class in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Abbottabad and Multan. The North-western part of Pakistan, bordering with Afghanistan, is highly conservative and dominated by regional tribal customs dating back hundreds of years.
Literature
History
Pakistani literature, that is, the literature of Pakistan, as a distinct
lite gained its nationhood as a sovereign state in 1947. The common and
shared tradition of Urdu literature and English literature of the South
Asia was inherited by the new state. Over a period of time, a body of
literature unique to Pakistan has emerged in nearly all major Pakistani
languages, including Urdu, English, Punjabi, Pushto and Sindhi.
Poetry
The Urdu language has an old tradition of poetry and includes famous
poets as Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmad Faiz national Poet of
Pakistan. Apart from Urdu poetry Pakistani poetry also has many blends
of other languages. Balochi Poetry, Persian poetry, English poetry,
Punjabi poetry and Kashmiri poetry have all incoroprated and have
influenced the different kinds of poetry in the region.
Performing arts
Music
Pakistani music is represented by a wide variety of forms. It ranges from traditional styles (such as Qawwali) to more modern forms that try to fuse traditional Pakistani music with western music. A famous Pakistani musician, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was internationally renowned for creating a form of music which synchronized Qawwali with western music. Popular forms of music also prevail, the most notable being Film music and Urdu and Punjabi Pop music. In addition to this are the diverse traditions of folk music, as well as modern styles such as Rock with bands such as Junoon becoming recognized internationally.
Drama and theatre
These are very similar to stage plays in theatres. They are performed by
many well-known actors and actresses in the Lollywood industry. The are
many types of themes that are brought across with lots of humour. The
themes that are bought across ranges from a huge range of events that
taken place in ones life.
Recreation and sports
The official and national sport of Pakistan is field hockey, although squash and cricket are also very popular. The national cricket team has won the Cricket World Cup once (in 1992), were runners-up once (in 1999) and co-hosted the games twice (in 1987 and 1996). The team has also won the Australasia Cup in 1986, 1990, and 1994. The country will also be hosting the 2011 Cricket World Cup with India and Bangladesh. At an international level, Pakistan has competed many times at the Summer Olympics in field hockey, boxing, athletics, swimming, and shooting. Hockey is the sport that Pakistan has been most successful at the Olympics, with three gold medals (1960, 1968, 1984). Pakistan has also won the Hockey World Cup four times (1971, 1978, 1982, 1994). Pakistan has hosted several international competitions, including the SAFG 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 more closer to the northern areas too. Also, it is hoped that Pakistan will fare better in the Football World Cup qualifiers for 2010.
Cuisine
The culinary art in Pakistan comprises a mix of Middle Eastern, Indian, Persian, and Turkish cuisine that reflects the country's history as well as the variation of cooking practices from across the surrounding regions. Urban centres of the country offer an amalgamation of recipes from all parts of the country whereas food with specific local ingredients and tastes is available in rural areas and villages. Besides the main dishes of curry with or withour meat cooked in vegetables or lentils, there are a number of provincial specialties such as karahi, shab degh, sajji etc. served in various forms, flavours and tastes and are eaten alongside Basmati rice or a variety of breads. There are also local forms of grilled meat or Kebabs, desserts as well as hot and cold drinks.
Festivals
Chand Raat
After an Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, just the night before Eid comes, everyone gets ready for Eid. In the night known as Chand Raat, girls put henna on their hands. Most people have parties at their house. People go out for the last minute shopping for gifts and sweets that will be given to friends and families. Even outside at the malls and the plazas, there are many colourful lights. There are large crowds in the city center to celebrate the beginning of Eid.
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 Prophet Ibrahim to
sacrifice his son Prophet Ishmael for God. During these days there are
national holidays and many festivals and events 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 people hit the town for some
partying, going to restaurants or relaxing in city parks.On Eid ul-Fitr poor people are given some money as a form of charity and as gifts to young children.
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 Prophet Muhammad
Moharram (Ashura)
In Pakistan 10 Days of Moharram from 1st to 10th Moharram observed officially.
Jashn-e-Baharan
Jashn-e-Baharan also 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 take
place all over the city's rooftops during Basant. The fertile province
of Panjab 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 origins of
Jashn (celebration) Baharan (spring).
Norouz
This festival is like Norouz of Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. In
Northern Pakistan (Gilgit, Baltistan) Norouz is celebrated as a
socio-religious festival. It is also celebrated with much fervour in
Balochistan and in the urban centres of Karachi and Lahore. The day
falls on 23rd of March but the celeberation continues for weeks. In
Baltistan, the main feature of Norouz is gifting of coloured eggs to
friends and polo matches. While in Balochistan, the festival is marked
with outdoor feasts, and the traditional jumping over a fire to wash
away sins and usher in a fresh start. The origins of this festival are
pre-Islamic and date back to when Pakistan was part of the
Achaemenid/Persian empire for several thousand years.
Independence Day
On August 14, every year all over Pakistan, the people of Pakistan
celebrate the day Pakistan gained its independence from the British Raj
for an independent state for Muslims. There are lots of celebrations all
over the country, the streets are full of joyful people singing and
dancing. Concerts are held with many pop and classical singers. Parades
are held in the capital city (Islamabad). All over the country people
decorate their house with colourful decorations. Flags fly on top of
each house. At night, fireworks are done in many cities. On this day
people pray for the country and think how proud they are to be
Pakistanis.
Defense Day Parade
September 6 is another patriotic day, when the Army of Pakistan is put
on display for the general public to show Pakistan arms. All Government
officials attend the ceremony and medals and recognitions are awarded to
special people for their work. In 2007, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will
put on display the new joint manufactured Chinese-Pakistan aircraft
called the JF-17 Thunder. The aircraft will also take part in the fly
past during the parade.
Popular media
Television
Traditionally, the government-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) has been the dominant media player in Pakistan. The PTV channels are controlled by the government and oppositional views are not given much time. However, past decade has seen emergence of several private TV channels (news , entertainment) such as the GEO TV, AAJ TV, ARY Digital, Indus Vision, HUM, MTV Pakistan and a dozen or so more channels. 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.
Radio
After independence, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) was the sole
radio channel in Pakistan during 1947. The Pakistan Broadcasting
Corporation was formed on 14th August 1947 when Pakistan became
independent. It was a direct descendant of the Indian Broadcasting
Company which later became All India Radio. At independence Pakistan
possessed three radio stations at Dhaka, Lahore and Peshawar. A major
programme of expansion saw new stations opened at Karachi and Rawalpindi
in 1948, and a new broadcasting house at Karachi in 1950. This was
followed by new radio stations at Hyderabad (1951), Quetta (1956), a
second station at Rawalpindi (1960) and a receiving centre at Peshawar
(1960). During the 1980s and 1990s the corporation expanded its netwrok
to many cities and towns of Pakistan to provide more to the local
people. Today, there are over a hundred radio stations due to more
liberal media regulations.
Cinema
An indigenous movie industry exists in Pakistan, and is known as
"Lollywood" as it is based in Lahore, producing over forty
feature-length films a year. In contrast, Indian movies are popular in
Pakistan despite a ban since the Pakistan-India War in 1965, however due
to the massive film piracy industry in Pakistan, bollywood films (and
American hollywood films) have made it to Pakistani movie shelves and
home videos for over thirty years. The Lollywood industry used to
produce many Urdu films however as Lahore became the headquarters of the
film industry, slowly the number of Urdu films decreased with the same
rate of Punjabi language rising.
Pakistan also has another film industry based in Peshawar, North West
Frontier Province that produced Pashto language films. As demand for
films has increased, Karachi has its own version of film festivals,
which includes the Kara Film Festivals where many film producers, actors
and film staff get together to celebrate achievements in the industry.
National Dress
One of the most familiar sights in Pakistan, is that traditionally Pakistani men wear Shalwar Kameez. They come in many different styles, fabrics, colours and patterns that make them look really stylish. Pakistani women also wear Shalwar kameez no matter what province they are from. However, many women from the Sindh province wear ghagra varying from different styles and colours. Pakistani women wear an elaborate and heavily embroidered dress known as gharara on their wedding days. The Sherwani or Achkan with Karakuli hat is the national dress of Pakistan for men, as it is not specifically associated with any of the provinces. Most government officials wear the formal black Sherwani on state occasions.
Globalization
Increasing globalization has amplified the influence of "Western culture" in Pakistan. Pakistan ranks 46th in the world on the Kearney/FP Globalization index. Many Western restaurant chains have established their franchises in Pakistan, and are found in the major cities and towns. A large Pakistani diaspora exists in the West. Whereas Pakistanis in the United States, Canada and Australia tend to be professionals, the majority of them in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavia originally came from a rural background belonging to the working class. A large number of Pakistani expatriates are also living in the Middle East. These emigrants and their children influence Pakistan culturally and economically, keeping close ties with their roots by travelling to Pakistan and especially by returning or investing there.
