Posts Tagged Culture
[Digital Art] “My Identity”
Karim Ahmed Khan, contributor, is a self taught digital artist. He would formally start learning art at NCA Lahore in February 2010. He belongs to Ghulkin, Gojal.
21 comments October 25, 2009
[Poetry] The sacred rock of Hunza
by Noor
though just some random lines are these
the life, the scene, the heat and voice
have nestled-dead in these lifeless lines
the leaping ibex can not move
its legs are frozen in the lines
inside the rock
the swaying top of what is a tree
bent by a wind we can not feel
has also frozen in the rock
the man who drew these lines is dead
he might, by now, have forgotten
that once while he was off to China
at a beautiful place, along the path
beneath the castle of a Mir
he had inscribed some random lines
He may not know, may never know
those lines are now “sacred ” for some
And if, by chance, he comes to know
he would descend,
right from somewhere
holding a metal in his hands
first he would laugh
and laugh again
laughing at the holiness lust
of men,
the crown of creation
and then he would
draw some more skewed lines
another set of images
forming another “sacred rock”
Source: http://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=7596
1 comment October 25, 2009
New Wakhi audio album, “Yod”, inaugrated
By Ali Ahmad
Gilgit, October 22: A new Wakhi musical audio album, titled “Yod” was released for sale today. Islamuddin of PPP and Salamat Jan of PML (N) participated in the release event, along with over three hundred other people.
The songs have been composed by Nazar karim Tanha, belonging to Chipursan valley. Saif Rumi and Ibadat Ali are the singers. The album is dedicated to Alam Jan, a social activist who passed away recently.
9 comments October 22, 2009
[Pictory]Traditional ’style’
An employee of Deosai National Park sporting traditional mostaches poses for Pamir Times. Those mesmerized by “Western” styles might also find some inspiration from what’s truly ours.
Photo Abbas Wafa
Add comment October 20, 2009
International Pamir Festival 2009 being held in Wakhan
by Ali Aman Gojali (Event organizer)
Wakhan, September 21: A two days long International Pamir Festival 2009, will be celebrated on 27th and 28th September, at the roof of the world, Sarhad-e- Buroghil, Wakhan in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan. Artists from Tajikistan, Pakistan and China have been invited to attend the festival, along with the local artists, to perform in the festival.
Traditional Music, dances, songs, cultural dresses and traditional games will be held during the festival, providing a rare opportunity for Wakhi speaking artists from the four countries. This is for the very first time that artists from all four countries containing Wakhi speaking population will participate in a single event. It would prove to be an opportunity of reflection, as well as an impetus for developing strategic bonds in the field of art and culture.
The festival will see song performances in categories like Wathan Bayed, Flak, Dough Bayed and Raboyee Bayed, performances of musical instruments like Rabab, Sitar, Tambura, Ghaz`hek and Duff and dances in the Pamir, Sham Sheer Bozee, Diwan Raqce and Anthrak styles.
Traditional games like Buzkashee, Polo, Pohiga /hour races, Qasting /Polwani , Ciklek /Tuksuree and Suthoy too, will also be played during the festival.
Both festival nights will be “Sufi Nights”, with performances in Qaceda, Munajuth and Souse Bayed.
This year’s Pamir Festival is being organized by the Ministry of Information and Culture, Afghanistan in collaboration with Wakhan Tourism and Cultural Promotion, AKF – Afghanistan.
13 comments September 22, 2009
[Feature]The women who would restore a symbol of Hunza’s history
by Noor & Asghar Khan
As the nine hundred years old Altit Fort gets completely restored in the year 2010, not only would facade of the ancient fort have changed in the middle of Hunza valley, a deeper social change would also have taken roots in terms of perceptions regarding gender roles in the society.
Traditionally labour of the the female folk of Hunza was limited to bringing up children, grazing 
animal, watering crop fields, collecting wood for fuel, grass for the cattle, or doing other indoor choirs, as allowed by the society. However, with the passage of time the women of Hunza adopted other roles entering other mainstream professions, like teaching, medicine, politics, social development and, recently, the armed forces. This was made possible by the education system introduced by His Highness the Aga Khan, through AKDN.
Now, the women of Hunza have taken yet another step towards social emancipation.
Seventy percent of the total people working on restoration of the fort are trained female skilled workers. Female electricians, carpenters, masons and plumbers restoring the Altit fort are making history by venturing into new areas of opportunity and expression, hitherto considered forbidden for the “fair” sex.
This is a welcome change as far as economic, psychological and social independence of the women of Hunza is concerned.
The restoration project is undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The trust has trained and employed a large number of women of Hunza, creating new opportunities of earning livelihood for half of the population, while also breaking taboos that limited choices for the women to a selected number of gender roles, as determined by a patriarchical society.
It is, now, also important to further work for objective sensitization of the society at large regarding the changed gender roles and their implications. One major negative implication can be lesser work available for the men who used to perform such tasks in the past. This might frustrate a segment of the society, no matter how small.
What is required is a holistic, inclusive, strategic plan
for balanced social development where the emancipation of one segment of the society does not shrink choices for the other, neutralizing the impact of change. This is vital for maintaining social harmony and family life, in a changed and charged social environment.
Men of Hunza have, logically, been supportive of the processes that have led to creation of the society that we have today. What they need to further understand is that when the social roles are changed, rules of the game of social life also change, by default. They will have to learn to live and compete in a beautifully different and a meritocratic society.
8 comments September 21, 2009
Eid being celebrated acorss Gilgit – Baltistan
PT Report
Gilgit, September 21: Muslims across Giglit – Baltistan are celebrating Eid – ul – Fitr with traditional religious zeal and fervor. Major eid gatherings were held in all seven districts of the region including, Gilgit, Ghizar, Diamir, Skardu, Ghahngche, Asotre and Hunza – Nagar.
Thousands of people participated in Eid prayers in the morning and are now busy visiting homes of relatives and friends to share the joys of Eid.
Add comment September 21, 2009
Animation movie “SHREK” dubbed in Wakhi language, renamed “Babirzung”
by Noor
Karachi, September 20: Persistent hardwork of ten months, by a group of self motivated youngsters from Gojal valley, bears fruit as the first ever Wakhi dubbed animation movie, BABIRZUNG, is presented to the viewers, for pure family entertainment.
BABIRZUNG is being released on the day of Eid – ul – Fitr, in Islamabad. It has been termed as a wonderful Eidie for the Wakhi speaking community of Central and South Asia. While at one hand it manifests the digital boldness and creativity of the youth, on the other hand it heralds a new era of innovation, experimentation and progress for Wakhi language, art and literature.
The characters having prominent roles in the movie inlcude Muhammad Zia, Sher Khan, Sultan Uddin,Shahid Ullah Baig,Aman Karim, Piyar Karim and Tahir Zaman, among several others.
It is pertinent to note here that the same movie has earlier been dubbed in Burushaski language also. While terming the dubbing a giant first step, it is also important to understand that in the future there are ample opportunities for inexpensive, yet complete, innovation on these lines.
The movie shall be a wake up call for leaders of organizations that cliam to be working for progress of our language and art, while wasting millions in temporary pomps and shows. It is a sad state of affairs that while the young people are selflessly working on concrete grounds, in revolutionary directions, the figure head elders are not ready to give up their hegemonic control over the relevant organizations.
If these young people can attain so much on their own, with proper support mechanisms they will revolutionize the idea of indigenous digital cultural production in the times to come.
The movie can be obtained in Rawalpindi/Islamabad by calling Muhammad Zia (0331-5563721/0344-5053818). It is also available at Hud Hud Stationers, Ghulkin – Gojal (0344-5242292/03445377205).
13 comments September 20, 2009
[Artist Profile] Sohail Rumi: A hidden jewel
Sohail Rumi is a young artist, lead singer in this video. He belongs to Sost, Gojal.
17 comments September 18, 2009
Wakhi radio program’s duration being increased to 60 minutes
by Ali Ahmed
Gilgit, September 17: A delegation of Wakhi speaking people led by President Wakhi Tajik Cultural Association (WTCA) held an important meeting with Mr Murtaza Solangi, Director General of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), at Serena Hotel.
Disucssing the Wakhi Program, “Sado-e-Bom-e-Dunyo”, the delegation presented a three-points proposal to the DG for improving its reach and impact. It was suggested that duration of the program be increased to one hour, as the allocated thrity minutes are not enough to leave any substantial impact on development of the Wakhi language and community. Suggestion for hiring a Wakhi speaking professional producer, exclusively for Sado-e-Bom-e-Dunyo”, was also presented during the disucssion. Third suggestion was regarding initation of external programs in Wakhi language.
The director was told that despite of its decade long presence on air waves, the Wakhi language program needs a lot of improvement in terms of content quality and innovation. The positive inital role played by the radio program, regarding preservation and promotion of the Wakhi identity was also appreciated by the delegation.
Mr Solangi not only appreciated and agreed with these suggestion, he also promised that an FM radio station would be established in Gojal, Hunza. He further said that the program timings will be increased by thirty minutes, but the time slot will be 9:30-10:30, in the night. He also assured the team that he will visit Gojal valley after Eid holidays. He further advised the dekegation to recommend some strong persons with appropriate education and skills for the position of producer.
Mr Arshad Khan, MD Pakistan Television, was also present during the meeting and he appreciated the efforts of WTCA for its cultural activities, mainly arranging festivals. He also mentioned that PTV is starting a bureau office in Gilgit-Baltistan on the instruction of Governor.
The Wakhi delegation comprised of Abuzar Ali, Mohammad Aslam, Ahmed Raiz Ahmed, . Sultan Ahmed, Nawab Ali Khan, Asghar Khan, Mohammad Ali, Rehan Shah, Saif Udin Saif, Nisar Karim, Ali Ahmed and Yaqub Ali.
12 comments September 17, 2009
Lok Virsa documents Yarkhun, Boroghil valleys
ISLAMABAD: Lok Virsa has undertaken documentary on life, culture and folklore of Wakhi people living in the Pamir mountains on Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikstan and China borders.
A three-member team of National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage comprising a video producer, craft collector and cameraman, undertook a field research to Chitral and upper border areas for documentation of Boroghil valley.
The Boroghil valley is nearly inaccessible in the extreme northern border of Pakistan. It is located in the Pamir mountain ranges, with Wakhan Corridor in the west and Gojal in upper Hunza on the east China to the east. The Wakhan corridor is sparsely populated with a population estimated around 11,000.
More at SOURCE
1 comment September 10, 2009
[AmiNama] Women of my valley
AmiNama is a new term that cobimes “Amina” and “Nama” (letter in Persian/Urdu). It means “Letter from Amina”. Aminama will be written by Amina Khan, currently based in USA. This segment is a symbol of Pamir Times’ support for equality of opportunity and expression. Editor_.
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She rises with sun
Giving light to the earth
And sleeps with stars
Ever since your birth
She weeps when you ail
She laughs when you sing
She is always full of love,
Be it autumn or spring
She lies to the world,
After you beat her,
“He is very kind and gentle”
She tells your neighbor
She hides her pain
But eyes can not lie
She lies to the world
But tears don’t lie
She lives for you,
And she dies for you
And when you find someone else
She leaves for you!!
She leaves your house
Which she built with her blood
And you treat her, as if
She is made of mud!!
Very silent and simple
She is lady of my valley
My heroes and my strength
All women of my valley
13 comments August 19, 2009
Art & Craft Exhibition 2009 held in Gilgit city
by Asghar Khan
Tourism Department Northern Areas held an Art & Craft Exhibition 2009 at City Park Gilgit on the Independence Day of Pakistan. Maj. Gen. Muzamil Hussain, Commander Force Command, FCNA, Northern Areas was the chief Guest. Along with Chief guest, Chief Secretary Northern Areas, Govt. officials, Members of NALA and notable of Northern Areas participated in the exhibition.
Ribbon cutting ceremony was performed by the chief guest. The exhibition was opened for general public, from 4 pm to 7 pm. The event was exclusively for ladies. Participating in the exhibitino were the Planning and Development Department, Women Development Project, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistant, Gilgit Serena Hotels, AKCSP, BEDAR, Rupani Foundation, Northern Areas Gems, Mineral Association (NAGMA), SCO, WARID, Telenor, Ufone and artisan form Ghizer, Astore, Khaplu, Ganche, and Chilas.
Mr. Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, Chief Secretary, Northern Areas announced prizes for the best stall, won by FOCUS Humanitarian Assistant. The Chief Secretary presented Rs. 20,000/ to FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan, while an artist from Khapulu received Rs. 15,000/, second prize, and an artisan form Ghanche received Rs. 10,000/- third prize.
Add comment August 18, 2009
[Poetry] The girl is in love
by Amina Khan
Today, I am making a confession
I know it is forbidden
But I am deep in love
I can’t hide my feelings,
For the beauty, I can’t see
For the voice, which I can’t hear
For the fragrance I can’t smell
Still I am in love
With the tall tall mountain
With the deep deep river
With the beautiful glaciers
Oh yes, I am in love
With the simple people of my valley
With traditions of my people
With the advice of our elders
With obeying of our youngster
With strength of our women
Yes I am in love
With the tea in the Thermos
Putook in the oven
Potato in every dish
With Molida and, also, Baath
Chumos and Quruth
Yes, I am in love
How can I hide these feelings?
When I am far away from the mountains
Trapped between these towering buildings
And want to share my feelings
Grandma don’t be ashamed
Your granddaughter is in love
Please don’t get annoyed
And let me share my feeling s
To my people and my homeland
It is my submlime love
47 comments August 13, 2009
