Pashtun’s Culture

HISTORY:

Pashtuns, Pakhtoons or Pathans make an ethnic group with populations mainly in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The origin of Pashtun people is unclear but most of historians have agreed upon that Pashtun people have common ancestors known as Pakhtas or Pactyans. Their roots are also often linked to Eastern European people, Aryans and Jewish people. Initially, these people were inhabitants of Hindu Kush mountains and Indus river between 2nd and 1st BC.  Since, 3 AD and afterwards they started to get called as Afghans. Total population of Pashtun across the globe is around 45 million. 30 million of which reside in Pakistan and 13 million live in Afghanistan. The rest of Pashtuns are residing all over the world mainly in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Russian, Iran UAE and Canada.

DIVISION OF PASHTUNS:

It has already been mentioned that majority of Pushtuns live in Pakistan and Afghanistan. These Pashtuns were considered as one nation until 1893 when they were divided by a Durand line.  Durand line agreement was signed by Mortimer Durand of British India and Amir Abdur Rehman Khan of Afghanistan. This agreement was initially supposed to be for 100 years, but because of the sub continent partition, it is now considered as a permanent border line between Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, there are still few political forces on both side of the border who reject the permanent status of Durand line.  Durand line cuts through the tribal areas of Pakistan and Baluchistan and divides ethnic Pashtuns and Baloch who live on both side of the border.

PASHTUNWALI:
Pashtunwali is an ethnic code which pashtun people follow for their life style. There are about 10 different ethnic codes of Pashtunwali but 3 are the most famous one. Following are the 3 main famous ethnic codes of Pashtunwali.
a) Melmastia : Melmastia is “hospitality”. Pashtun people show hospitality to all visitors regardless of their religion, race, regional and religious affiliations.
b) Nanawati: Nanawati is “asylum”. It is very famous ethnic code of Pashtunwali. It refers to giving an asylum to any individual against his/her enemies if that individual enters a pashtun’s house. One such prime example was set when hundreds of Arab fighters were giving asylum after their escape from Afghanistan into the tribal areas of Pakistan.
c) Badal: Badal is “revenge”. Badal is also one of the most important ethnic code of Pashtunwali. Pashtun people are knows for taking their revenge. There is no time limit for them to take their revenge. They get taunted If they don’t take their revenge.

JIRGA:
Jirga is gathering of local Pashtun elders who get together to solve local disputes. The disputants would usually begin with finding a mediator of some stature such as a religious leader or notable elder. The mediator will listen to both parties and then will collect a group of other notable leaders and together give a verdict about the dispute. The jirga’s verdict has to be accepted by both parties. Jirga is known for providing speedy justice to the local people.

WEDDINGS:
Wadah “wedding” is a general rule in Pashtun society arranged by their parents. Bride and groom usually don’t play any role during the process of their wedding. “Walwar” is head money the guy’s parents give to the girl’s parents on the day of engagement. The dowry is usually meager. The concept of Walwar is somehow criticized in modern Pashtun's society. It is considered as a business transaction or selling out a daughter. This practice is getting greatly reduced in recent days but it still get practiced in Southern Afghanistan and Tribal Areas of Pakistan.

PASHTUN CUISINES:

Pashtun cuisines are mainly divided between Pakistan and Afghanistan cuisines. Majority of Pashtun cuisines are made up of meat, wheat and rice. Famous food is considered to be Kabab and Warta " BBQ". The most famous Kabab is known as " chapli kabob" and the most famous part of BBQ is known as " Pattay tikkay". Pattay tikkay are fat covered liver and kidney pieces. Kabli Palawo is also considered as a famous Pashtun's food. Raisins and almonds are added to the rice. Tandoori naan is a also a famous bread being used in Pashtun's areas. Cities like Jalalabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Kandahar are known being the centers of Pashtun's cuisines.

BIRTH CEREMONY:

Pashtun's are well known for their joint family system. They are often mentioned to have large families. They build huge houses where entire family live together under one elder. Birth of male babies is highly celebrated while birth of female isn't. Young males in a house would go out and shot some rounds to announce the arrival of a new baby boy. Relatives will visit to congratulates the arrival of a new baby and the host invite their relatives and friends for a big fest.

PASHTUN DRESS:

Being nomadic and rural people, most Pashtuns wear dresses made of light linens. The traditional male dress is called “Khet Partoog” while the female dress is called “ Firaq Partoog”. Male will also wear different types of caps. The most famous caps/hats are called Karakul, Pakool and Longi. Afghan President Hamid Karzai an ethnic pashtun is also famous for wearing Karakul on his head. Tribal leaders wear Longi “ turban”. Pashtun female wear colored dresses. The wear loose trousers and long shirts. Most Pashtun female wear big chaddars around their upper bodies. Some of them will also wear Burqa to cover their bodies.

Heaven on earth ( Parachinar )

Parachinar is the capital of Kurram Agency, and the largest city of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Parachinar is situated on a neck of Pakistani territory south of Peshawar, that juts into Paktia Province of Afghanistan.Parahchinar was the place where i was born, as i grew up i got more and more attachted with the beauty of the place.During the period of summers i and my family would go for picnic every weekend.what i really love about the place was the cold weather with small fortified villages ,orchards ,dark pine trees and a river flowing through Khurram valley ,Parachinar has all it take to be paradise on earth.

But today the paradise seems lost to terrorism and moreover sectarian violence destroyed the peace of the city. what a curious thing is fate,a historian looking back in time at Parachinar would not be able to imagine a scene of turmoil and chaos whereas in present day ,a civilian there would be standing amidst the wreckage mourning a paradise lost.The certainity that peace would always prevail in the land of green carpet feilds and quietly flowing river has been shattered and without certainty comes helplessness.

Even the coffin makers must be left to weep.How many of them are hard at work now, cutting up wood and adding finishing touches, wondering which one of their hand made coffin might be theirs to lie in.

Evolution of Fashion

 

Evolution of fashion 

 

Fashion is a term that is used to describe a popular style of dressing. Fashion can be used to describe clothes, accessories, shoes, make up, bags and even hair styles. When you talk about fashion, it usually means the clothes and accessories that are worn by trend setters in society. Trend setters in a society are those people who are believed to have a sense of fashion. What they wear and how they wear it is what people refer to as fashion. Musicians, famous actors and actresses, models, fashion designers and bloggers as well as major television and radio personalities are the major trend setters in most societies when it comes to fashion. 

Throughout the years, fashion has been altered and transformed into what it is today. Fashion began further back than people can remember. In the 1800's woman were under a much more strict dresscode than fashion today with their legs covered with long, layered dresses and arms being covered with cuffs usually past their wrists. Fashion began to reform itself in the 1920's with the flapper generation consisting of short skirts. Throughout the years till the 1960's, the old and the new created a new form of relaxed dresscodes with still the touch of the old glamour. Up until the millenium, each decade seemed to have one distinct fashion. the 1960's created the hippie era, the 1970's the disco era, the 1980's introduced headbang metal fashions and powersuits, and grunge and retro looks overtook the 1990's. Then there was the millenium, the 2000's consisting of looks from all of these eras, being modernized and altered in new fashions but almost always using the past fashions to establish todays fashions.