The Customs Of Various Regions Of Pakistan

What food do they like?

No doubt, the Pathans are the true meat lovers. Their popular dishes include roast mutton and spicy chapli kababs. That’s not all; these kababs are frequently prepared at the special kabab shops for the Pathans and the visitors too.

What sort of people are the Pathans?

The Pathans are valiant and sturdy sort of people who are famous in the history for giving tough time to the invaders in the form of battle who had come to Pakistan from the north. The Pathans from the tribal areas still own and carry any kind of weapon along with them with pride.

How does a tribesman announce the birth of a son?

A tribesman announces the birth of a son by rifle-shots.

Why does he announce it?

According to the customs of the Pathan tribes, the more the number of men folk in a tribe, the more powerful it is considered. So, the birth of a son is regarded as a great blessing by the proud father from Allah Almighty that’s why he announces it with full enthusiasm.

Why is Punjab called the seat of learning?

The Punjab is called the seat of learning because it has a rich history of learning and education as The University of Taxila flourished in Punjab nearly two thousand and five hundred years ago. Now-a-days, a large number of schools, colleges and universities are still flourishing to a great extent in the province of Punjab.

Where do the Punjabi farmers sit in the evening?

The Punjabi farmers sit in the chopal in the evening. It is the place that gives chance to the weary farmers to have some time to relax and discuss their daily issues and problems and seek advice from the elders of the village. The young ones enjoy that time at that place by singing the famous tunes of Punjab such as Mahya or Heer.

Which is the university that existed in Pakistan about two thousand and five hundred years ago?

The University of Taxila existed in Pakistan about two thousand and five hundred years ago.

What is the result of extreme weather on the lives of the Balochis?

Balochistan is a province of vast barren land accompanied with dry mountains. The result of extreme weather conditions in Balochistan on the lives of the Balochis is extreme too. The life of the people of Balochistan is quite difficult for them to lead. In winters, the Balochis come down from the mountains and when the summers arrive they go back to their homes in order to enjoy pleasant weather over there.

In a Balochi wedding who feasts the guests of both the bride and the groom?

It is a tradition among Balochis that at the time of wedding the groom merrily give feast not only to his own guests but to the bride’s family and relatives too.

How old is the civilization of the Valley of Mehran?

The civilization of the Valley of Mehran is one of the oldest in the world.

Who are the famous Saints of Sindh?

Sindh is a province well-known for a number of sufis and saints such as Hazrat Shahbaz Qalandar and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. They won the hearts of a million of people through their pious nature and decent lifestyle.

What are the famous crafts of Sindh?

Sindh is known for many things but one of the reasons for its popularity all over the world are the famous crafts of the province such as the traditional embroidery done by the Sindhis on dresses, purses, cushions, caps etc. Both men and women like to wear colorful embroidery dresses in silk thread all the time. Mirror work is also the famous craft of Sindh.

Comprehension-B

Q.1) Learn the spellings and meanings of the following words from the lesson and use ten of them in sentences of your own:

fertile; regions; sturdy; weapon; rifle; announce; slopes; mutton; refugee; silvery; participate; festivities; nomadic.

Answer:

Words

Meanings

fertile

(of soil or land) producing or capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops

regions

an area, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries

sturdy

(of a person or their body) strongly and solidly built

weapon

a thing designed or used for inflicting bodily harm or physical damage

rifle

a gun, especially one fired from shoulder level, having a long spirally grooved barrel intended to make a bullet spin and thereby have greater accuracy over a long distance

announce

make a formal public statement about a fact, occurrence, or intention

slopes

a surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another; a rising or falling surface

mutton

the flesh of fully grown sheep used as food

refugee

a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster

silvery

like silver in colour or appearance; shiny and grey-white

participate

be involved; take part

festivities

the celebration of something in a joyful and exuberant way

nomadic

living the life of a nomad; wandering

Words

Sentences

fertile

The land of province of Punjab is quite fertile and good for agricultural purposes.

sturdy

You can take this chair as it is quite sturdy.

weapon

The investigation team found the murder weapon.

rifle

The hunter aimed his rifle at the wild bear.

announce

The result of the elections will be announced tomorrow morning.

mutton

The nutritious value of pulses is equal to that of mutton.

refugee

Sanitary conditions in the refugee camps were terrible.

participate

I want to participate in this educational conference.

festivities

Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid and other religious festivities with great zeal and fervor.

nomadic

The Arab nomadic tribe move their camp several times a year.

Comprehension-E

How are the marriages arranged and the wedding ceremonies performed among the Pathans and the Balochis?

The Pathans always give due respect to their parents and elders. It is a ritual for all the Pathan children to listen and obey their parents in every respect. That’s why when there arises the question of marriage either of a girl or a boy, the children gives full authority to their parents to decide for their future life with respect to finding their appropriate and perfect mates. Therefore, the marriages are arranged wholly and solely by the parents in the Pathan tribes.

The Balochis perform their wedding ceremonies with full zeal and zest. Every member of the family participates actively and enthusiastically in each and every custom and tradition of the Baloch tribe. One can see and experience the laughter of people throughout the Balochi wedding ceremony mingled with the traditional songs and dance performances of both men and women on dynamic beats of the drums. It is a custom of the Balochis that the groom arranges a feast not only for his family and relatives but for the bride’s guests too. The groom’s family brings the food along with Baraat to the bride’s residence.

Why is Punjab called the “Heart of Pakistan”?

The province of Punjab is blessed with fertile land and the gift of five rivers from Allah Almighty. Quaid-e-Azam knowing this fact gave the title of “Heart of Pakistan” to Punjab. Meaning that as heart holds a vital place in the human body the same place is held by the province of Punjab with respect to the territory of Pakistan. Without Punjab, it is quite difficult for Pakistan to live a contented life as this land provides grains and crops, fruits and vegetables in bulk that are not only used by the people of Pakistan but are of such marvelous quality that they are exported to various countries too by glorifying the name of Pakistan throughout the world.

What is a Urs and how is it celebrated?

Urs is basically a religious festival that is celebrated in most of the regions of Punjab and Sindh. It is celebrated by the devotees of famous saints, sufis and poets such as Hazrat Shahbaz Qalandar and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. Actually the people want to show their respect, love and reverence through Urs which they hold for such great people who served their lives for the welfare and betterment of the masses and for the spread of Islam. People use to sing folk songs in Urs in the memory of great sufis and saints.

How do the Balochis keep warm in a room in cold weather?

The Balochis are physically powerful people who have the strength to face the hardships and difficulties of life quite bravely. That is why they have adopted a unique method to fight against the extreme cold weather by inventing a Sandly (a local coal stove). It is a stove in which burning coal is placed in the middle of the room. They keep it under a table and then spread a large quilt or blanket over the table. When it is hot enough then all the family members get under the quilt or the blanket to keep them warm and be safe from the cold.