A large number of people attired in new clothes, ajrak on their shoulders and Sindhi topi (cap) on their heads thronged the streets of the province on Saturday to celebrate the Sindh Culture Day.
The Culture Day, which is usually celebrated in the first week of December, is being observed early this year in view of the sanctity of Muharramul Haram that starts in a week.
On Saturday, the main event was organised by Sindh TV at the Karachi Press Club where countless people, including women and children, of the city and other parts of the province gathered to take part in the celebration.
Besides, Awaz TV arranged a huge public gathering, whereas the Sindh government also observed the day officially.
Residents of Sindhi-dominated areas of the city, and its suburbs and coastal villages rallied to share their culture as they sported ajraks and Sindhi topis.
In many areas, people were seen dancing on cultural songs, among which “Jeay Sindh Jeay, Sindh Wara Jeyan” was predominant.
At some sites, traditional artistes were observed playing different indigenous musical instruments – such as the flute, narr, naghara, borrindo, alghozo, yaktaro, danburo, been and dhol – to the tune of provincial songs.
A large number of people, including women and children, across the province took to the streets to express their love for the Sindhi culture.
The Kawish Television Network is celebrating the Sindh Unity Day on Sunday (today) and different programmes are planned for the event.
The Sindh Culture Day was celebrated for the first time on December 6, 2009 (as the Sindhi Topi Day) as a backlash to the comments of anchorman Dr Shahid Masood who had criticised President Asif Ali Zardari for wearing a Sindhi cap on his foreign tours.
People across the province condemned Masood’s comments via SMS, which ultimately resulted in the announcement of celebrating the Sindhi Topi Day.
Observing the massive response, Sindhi television channels started supporting the day, whereas the people of the province purchased Sindhi topis in large numbers until the stock was exhausted.
Sindhi topi and ajrak are supposed to be the most essential parts of the Sindhi culture and the people of the province usually offer Sindhi topi and ajrak to their guests.
Sindhi topi, a distinctive cap of the province, stands out due to its colourful embroidery and glasswork. It is round in shape and a portion in front is cut out to expose the forehead. Almost every Sindhi, rich or poor, owns a Sindhi cap.
Sindhi topi is famous not just in Sindh, but all over Pakistan; and besides Sindhis, it is worn by the Pakhtuns and Baloch.
Hand-woven Sindhi topis are a product of hard labour and produced in almost every district of the province.
However, the Sindhi topi produced in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar and other districts of the Mirpurkhas division are rated better and fetch a better price.
Asaan jo Sindh, asaan jo culture!
