A short briefing on the province of Balochistan (Pakistan)

1. Culture of Balochistan

2. Culture: Definition
The beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular
society, group, place, or time are called culture.
Culture refers to the knowledge system shared
by a large group of people and this
knowledge is transferred through out
generations.

3. Culture: Levels
National Level: Associated with the nation as a whole.
Regional Level: Associated with ethnic, linguistic, or
religious differences that exist within a nation.
Generation Level: Associated with the differences between
grandparents and parents, parents and children.
Social Class Level: Associated with educational opportunities and
differences in occupation.

4. Balochistan: Introduction
Location:
 South-West of Pakistan
 Area=3,47,190 km2
 Constitutes 44% of
Pakistan’s total land
 Largest province of
Pakistan in terms of area
 Population:13.16
million(1.316 crore)
 Literacy Rate: 43%

5. Balochistan: Introduction Contd..
 Provincial Capital: Quetta
 Total Districts:30
Quetta
Gwadar
Zhob
Mastung
Dera Bugti
Pishin
Ziarat
Qila Abdullah
Chagai
Kalat
Awaran
Lasbela
Jhal Mags
Harnai
Khuzdar
Sibi
Ziarat
Bolan
Musa Khel
Barkhan
Kohlu
Qila Saifullah
Nasir Abad
Jafar Abad
Panjgur
Kech
Loralai
Sheerani
* Four of the sub-divided districts not shown on map

6. Balochistan: Introduction Contd..
Quetta Gwadar

7. Culture of Balochistan: People
A number of tribes constitute to make people
of Balochistan.
Three major tribes of Balochistan are:
 Baloch
 Brahvi
 Pashtoon (Pathan)

8. Culture of Balochistan: People Contd..
The tribes of Balochistan are divided into the following categories
(only some of them are listed):
Baloch
Rind
Lashaar
Marri
Bugti
Ahmedzai
Pahtoon
Kakar
Mandokhel
Achakzai
Sherani
Luni
Brahvi
Raisani
Shahwani
Bengulzai
Lehri
Bezenjo

9. The tribal chief is called “Sardar”.
Head of sub-tribe is known as “Malik, Takari or Mir”.
Each tribe is further sub-divided into various branches and a Jirga
system is followed by most of the tribes.
Sardars and Maliks are members of district jirgas and other local
jirgas according to their status.
Culture of Balochistan: People Contd..

10. Most of the people in cities and towns understand and speak two
languages.
Culture of Balochistan: Languages
Pashto
Brahvi
Baluchi
Majority of the population speak the national language Urdu.
Major

11. In Kachhi and Sibi districts, people speak Saraiki and Sindhi.
Culture of Balochistan: Languages contd..
Quetta city, the confluence point
of all linguistic groups accommodates
not only Urdu, Baluchi, Pashto, Brahvi
and Sindhi speaking people but
Darri and Persian speaking ones as well.

12. Culture of Balochistan: Dress
Turban is the common headwear
of the men.
The mean's shalwar kameez
consists of a very baggy shalwar
which uses large lengths of
cloth.
The kameez is also loose, which traditionally is
long with long sleeves.

13. Culture of Balochistan: Dress contd..
The female Balochi suit consists of the
head scarf, long dress and a shalwar.
Balochi women wear loose dresses
which are decorated in local designs
which include
Balochi silk-thread chain-stitch embroidery
(‫)کڑھائی‬
Balochi embroidery alone has 118 different
basic designs.

14. Culture of Balochistan: Food
The popular dishes of Balochistan are:
Sajji
Kaak, a rock-hard prepared bread.

15. Culture of Balochistan: Food contd..
Khaddi Kabab is a dish in which a whole lamb or goat is cooked
over a fire.
Dampukht is also a Balochi dish which
is prepared with meat and it is cooked in fats.

16. Culture of Balochistan: Marriages
The dowry is given by the bride’s family, not the groom’s family.
Life partners are commonly selected within the family
(constituting all close relatives) or tribe.
The bride’s parents are only supposed to gift clothes and gold to
their daughter according to their financial status.
All expenses of wedding (of both families) are also paid by the
groom’s family.

17. Culture of Balochistan: Marriages contd..
Habar-Bandi (Engagement)
Some of the marriage ceremonies are:
Bijjar (The aid from relatives taken by the groom’s family)
Jol Bandi (Preparing the bride for the wedding ceremony)
Hinna Band-Female (Mehndi)
Hinna Band-Male (Mehndi)
Nikah
Grand Feast
Nadinag (Groom leaves her home with the bride)

18. Culture of Balochistan: Festivals
Religious
Festivals
Eid-ul-Azha
Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-Meladun-
Nabi
Cultural
Festivals
Sibi Festival
Buzkashi
Sibi Festival: The festival lasts for
almost a week in mid-February.
Folk music performances,
cultural dances, handicrafts stalls,
and cattle shows are present
at this festival.
Buzkashi: It is a sport played on
horse-back by two teams that use
their skills to snatch a goat from
each other.

19. Culture of Balochistan: Music
Musical Instruments:
Flutes
Dhol
Suroz

20. Culture of Balochistan: Music contd..
Musical Instruments:
Tambur Baglama

21. Culture of Balochistan: Music contd..
Famous Poets:
Baba Jawansal BugtiGul Khan Nasir
Famous Singers:
Akhtar Channal Zehri Zarina Baloch