Subculture of Khyber Pakhtoon Khuwa

1. Introduction. People throughout the world have occupied the land. They can
be found in deserts, snow lands, near river belts, on the mountains in jungles and even
in most difficult places like Iceland.
Wherever people are living they have adopted accordingly and learnt to survive in all
the conditions. They have managed to get food from ice lakes, in deserts and even
through barren land by cultivating the corps.
With these they have their own believes norms traditions, language, dress, and food.
When we combine all these a culture is formed which is passed on through
generations of generations. Religion also plays an important role in defining the
culture of the society.
Culture of the subcontinent1 is very similar with little difference in food, language and
dressing. Rest is same, and can be traced down to Arabs, Greeks, Turks, and English
who have left their sings on the life of the people of this region.
Pakistan got its independence on 14th August 1947 and a new Islamic country came
on the map of the world. Before independence both India and Pakistan were one
country called Hindustan. On the basis of its language, norms traditions, food (Halal),
and religion it can be differentiated from other countries, whereas; other things remain
same.
On the basis of these the study is divided into six chapters. The present chapter covers
the introduction to the study and little insight is given about the culture, culture of
Pakistan and its background.
Chapter: 2. Culture of provinces in Pakistan. In this chapter, overall culture of the
different provinces in Pakistan has been discussed along with their key festivals,
tourists spots, their food, dress and language.
Chapter: 3. Culture of Khyber Pakhtoon Khuwa (KPK) is discussed briefly, focusing
on its rich traditions, different castes and languages. It is followed by culture of
Hazara Division which comprises rich fertile part of KPK.

Subcontinent consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and
SriLanka.

Chapter: 5. Conclusions. To understand the project, conclusion has been made on the
basis of the study.
Chapter: 6. References. The data obtained from different sites on the internet have
been given credit in this separate heading.

1.1.

Culture of Pakistan. Pakistan is an Islamic state where majority of the people

are Muslims, others include Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians some are from sheen tribes
living in northern areas.
Physically, due to diverse landscape of Pakistan it has got four climatic seasons in a
year, fertile lands, photohars, lakes, rivers, deserts, mountains, delta and forests.
People have adopted in different areas and have their own life style.
National dress of the country is Shalwar Qameez whereas; our national drink is
sugarcane juice. People have changed the dress according to climatic and traditional
values.
When we Pakistan we see different groups like Punjabis, Sindhis, Makranis,
Kashmiris, Bloch, Pathans, Muhajirs, Baltistanis, and Dardic in the north. Overall
when we see them we find the influence of Turks, Greeks, Afghans, and Hindus
which can be seen in their food, language, dress, norms and traditions also. Off course
Islam has to play its own role in all of this.
When we see deep into history we find traces of this part of people with that of Indus
Civilization which is one of the oldest civilization. Its traces can be found in Swat
(Butkara), in Taxila, Harappa, and Mohenjo-Daro.
Its literature has influence of Persian, Hindi, and English. It has rich literature of
Sindhi where Suchal Sarmast Kalandar is renowned, Pushtoo; Siraiki (Baba Bulay
Shah) played its part, and Balochi. In the later run scholars and poets like Faiz Ahmad
Faiz, Hafeez Jhalandhri, Amjad Islam Amjad, Abida Parveen, Jueen Alia played vital
role. Presently Wasi shah and other scholars are playing their role for its healthiness.
Qawali, folk music, ghazals, pop music, western music. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Shai
Zahoor, Ghulam Ali, Tina Sani, ---------- are very important and have played good
part of their role in entertaining the people.
We have cosines like Kurri, Palak ghost, Beef, Chapatti, rice and lassie and soft
drinks for the youngs. We can also find chines dishes, Indian dishes which are
somewhat similar, and other traditional dishes.

The country has five big rivers, and the largest of these is river Indus, Thar Desert2,
jungles, and mountains3, Potohars. All these combine make Pakistan a rich heaven for
the tourist and people for living.

Thar Desert is the largest desert of the country and is among the biggest deserts of the world.

Pakistan has highest mountains of the worlds like K-2, Nanga Parbat, and Trich Mir.

2. Culture of Provinces in Pakistan. There are five provinces in Pakistan and

area of Azad Jammu & Kashmir which has its own assemble and judicial system.
These provinces consist of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KPK formally known as North
West Frontier Province (N.W.F.P), and Gilgit Baltistan newly formed province.
Among these provinces Punjab is most populated, and Balochistan is less populated
and is bigger in size among the all. People of Punjab are called as Punjabis, so as
Sindhis, Bloch, Pathans and Baltis. On the basis of these provinces major highlights
have been shown in Table 1.
Items

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

KPK

Gilgitbaltistan

Foods

Lussi, Saag, Curry, Makai ki

Lussi, Bariyani,

Meat, Dum

Meat, Tikkay, naan,

Milk,

butter,

Roti, Rice, Bariyani, Chapatti,

Rice, Fish.

Pukht, Milk,

Meat.

ghee,

Meat,

Milk, Butter, Meat, Fish.

Butter.

Fruits/Vegetable

Mangoes, Oranges, Dates,

Dates,

Cotton,

vegetables all kind, Cotton,

sugarcane,

Rice, wheat, sugarcane etc.

wheat, mangoes.

rice,

naan.

Dates, peaches,

Peaches,

oranges,

Peaches,

almonds,

vegetables, almonds

oranges,

pistachio,

and dry fruits.

vegetables,

apples.

almonds and dry

fruits.

Tourist Spots

Rivers

Muree, Wagha border, Salt

Karachi

port,

Ziarat,

Hanna

Swat, Khyber pass,

Skardu

Range, Soon Sakesar, kalar

Hawks

bay,

Lake,

Sibbi,

Abbottabad,

Gilgit.

Kahar,Multan

Clifton,

shrines,Bahawalpur fort etc.

Hyderabad

Khanpur

shrines, Thatta.

Chitral.

Indus, Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej,

Gawadar port.

Indus, Hub

Hub

Jhelum.
Languages

Siraiki,

Kohat

pass,

tunnel, Tarbela Dam,

Dam,

Swat Indus, Chitral,

Indus

Kandahar, and Kabul.

Punjabi,

Urdu,

English.

Sindi,

Siraiki,

Urdu, English.

Bloch,

Pushtoo,Hindko,

pushtoo,

Urdu,

Afghani,

English.

Balti

Kohistani,

Persian,
Siraiki, Urdu.
Dress

Shalwar Qameez, Pent Shirt,

Dhoti,

Dhoti, khussa.

Qameez,

Shalwar

Shirt,

Pent
Ajrak,

Balochi

Cap, Chadar, Shalwar

Cap,

Shalwar, Vest

Qameez, Chapli.

Shalwar

coat, Chapli.

Chadar,

Qameez, Chapli

Khussa.
Dance

Bhangra, Luddi, Jhumar

Dhammal,

Lewa, Jhumar

Jhumro

Attan,

Khatak,

Chitrali dance

Old man dance,

Sword

dance,

Cow boy dance.

Castes

Butts, Jhatts, Samors, Awans,

Somoro,

Mugsi,

Chodaris, Arains.

Bhuttos, Jamalis.

Kakars,

Awans,

Jadoons,

Bhuttos,

Wazir,

Masoods,

Bhugtis,

Yousaf Zai.

Muries.

Table 1: Cultures of provinces of Pakistan.

Baltis, Sheens.

In the above table culture of Pakistan is discussed. They have different languages,
dresses and foods that they like. We have also seen the tourist spots in these provinces
which are of great attraction; similarly we have rivers, deserts, castes and their dances.
When we combine all these it makes the overall culture of the country which
resembles from one another and overall makes one culture of the country.

3. Subculture of Khyber Pakhtoon Khuwa. KPK was once called N.W.F.P.

and it consists of Pakhtoon, Sawatis, Wazir, Masoods, Awans, Jadoons, and
Kashmiris. The culture of KPK can be divided between Pathans and other castes.
Majority of the province consists of Pathans from different tribes and castes. Some of
the major tribes are Jadoons, Khatak, Yousaf Zai, Itman Zai, Muhammad Zai,
Sawatis, Masoods and Wazir.
Masoods and Wazir are found in North and South Waziristan, Sawatis are found in
Balakot, Shogran, Batgram, and Mansehara, who were displaced from swat by
Yousafzai tribe. Khatak are mostly found in Khyber agency, Jadoons in Havelian,
Abbottabad, and Mansehara. They came to this part by migrating from Gadoon now
part of Swabi.
Main food of people of KPK are Milk, Butter, Naan, Chapli Kebab is of major
importance, followed by calf meat, sheep and goat meat is also liked to much.
Namak Mandi in Peshawar is best place to enjoy one of the best foods of KPK
followed by green tea, which is symbol of Pathans that they enjoy after food. There
are some other foods like Gur ki Sharbat, and masalay wala Gur found in Swabi and
Nowshera are delights to have.
On the other hand we see cap, chadar, shalwar Qameez, and Chapli the trade mark of
this part of the people in their dress. In summers they wear cottons and in winters they
wear khaddar. Women in villages covers their faces and wears long decorated cloths,
in some cases wears bhurka also called abaya which is different to found in cities.
Pushtoo have different dialects and after pushtoo hindko is second language of the
region. Off course Urdu is also spoken in offices and schools and colleges along with
English.
Majority pushtoo speaking areas are Peshawar, Kohat, Swat, Mardan, Nowshera,
Dera Ismail Khan and Batgram and agencies. Hindko is spoken in Hazara division
Nowshera, Kohat and some parts of Peshawar.
Khatak dance is very popular dance whereas horse riding, shooting, hunting, and dogs
fighting are some other playtime activities of the people of KPK. Dogs fighting is
very famous in all parts of the province especially Kohat.
3.1. Culture of Hazara Division. Hazara division was also found before Pakistan
where its capital head was and is Abbottabad. It was named after its first deputy
commissioner Major James Abbott in mid 18th century.
6

Other districts include Haripur, Mansehara, Batgram, and Kohistan. Kohistan is

biggest district in terms of land, and Abbottabad is biggest in population. Major ethnic
groups here are Awans, Jadoons, Abbasids, Pathans, Mughals, Rajpoots, and Sardars.
Abbottabad is known as cites of schools and consists of Army Burn Hall College,
Abbottabad Public School, PAF Lower Topa, Banat Taleem School, Pine Hills School
and FG school. In Haripur we have Hazara public school, in Mansehara Scout Cadet
College Batrasi.
In the division we have first women medical college of the country, and have five
medical colleges alone in Abbottabad. It also has campus of UET, and Comsat
Abbottabad.
Major foods of the regions are shag ghost, curry, ghee, milk, butter, kulchay, naan,
pakwan. Fruits found here in Hazara are Almond, Grapes, Apples, Peaches, Anar,
Plum, Walnut, Japan fruit. Kebab is very popular here, along with pakoray of Ilyasi
masjid, khoya from Buffa.
Shalwar qameez, shawl, and chapli with cap are main dress of the region. Whereas,
jackets, coats, hoods are also found in cities. It is because of climate weather here
remain good in summers and cold in winters.
Major picnic spots of the region are Tarbela Dam, Khanpur Dam, Ayub Tomb, Hari
Singh Fort in Haripur, Shimla mountain, Harnoi, Thandiyani, PMA, Naran, Kaghan,
Shogran, Siri Pai, Chatar Plain.
Tea is also grown in Shinkiyari on trial basis, whereas tobacco is grown in Oghi and
some parts of Mansehara.
Main dance here is luddi, and songs that are called maiyas, thappy are popular. On the
other hand pop music lover are also found. People in their marriages prefer local
songs and dances over Indian songs in villages.

4.

Conclusion. Culture of Pakistan took its present shape from old societies

that were living here. Among these Turks, Greeks, Arabs and Hindus has major role
to play. Similarly, British era has also played its role and last not the least Islam.
Culture consists of traditions, norms, values and religion. On the culture of Pakistan
we can also see impacts of Afghanistan, China, India, and Iran. India and Afghanistan
are mostly related to Pakistan in terms of culture whereas; India is not an Islamic state
yet its food, festivals and dressing is somewhat similar to that of people of Pakistan.
Pakistan has great fertile lands, rivers, plateau, mountains, forests and people live
here. All have similar habits, norms, traditions, foods, songs and dances. We can see it
in all the provinces from Gilgit Baltistan to Sindh.
KPK has strong culture mostly based on Pathans and Islamic traditions and customs.
We have variety of food lovers here, and who entertain themselves with dance,
shooting and horse riding. In this very same KPK Hazara division has its own part to
play.
It is mixture of Punjab and KPK and most of the people here are literate, and food
lovers. They have their own songs and customs keeping in accordance to Islam which
is main religion of the people of this part. If we really want to explore rich culture of
Pakistan we have to pack our bags and see for ourselves.

5. References.