Culture of Karachi

The culture of Karachi (Sindhi language: ڪراچيءَ جي ثقافت) (Urdu: ثقافت كراچى ) is a manifestation of the lifestyle, festivals, literature, music, language, politics, cuisine and socio-economic conditions of the people of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Karachi is a microcosm of people from many diverse cultures and ethnicities from all over Pakistan as well as other parts of the world.

The everyday lifestyle of Karachi similar to that of other Pakistani major cities. The culture of Karachi is characterized by the blending of South Asian, Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Western influences, as well as the city's status as a major international business centre. As a whole, there is considerable diversity in culture, and this diversity has resulted a unique cultural amalgam of its own. Karachi also hosts the largest middle class stratum of Pakistan.

History of Karachi

Main article: History of Karachi

Part of the town of Karachi, with mud houses; camels and villagers in foreground. April 1851

The Baloch tribes from Balochistan and Makran established a small settlement of fishing communities,^[1] many of whom still inhabit sections of Sindh, and called it Kolachi. The modern port-city of Karachi, however, was developed by authorities of the British Raj in the 19th century. Upon the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the city was selected to become the national capital, and was settled by Muslim refugees from at the time of the independence in 1947, which radically expanded the city's population and transformed the demographics and economy. Karachi has faced major infrastructural and socio-economic challenges, but modern industries and businesses have developed in the city.

Language

Historically, Balochi and later Sindhi was spoken by the native population before the British conquest in 1834 by Charles James Napier. During British rule, many Gujrati and Parsi business families and Christian Goans bureaucracy migrated from Bombay Presidency to Karachi as it was being developed as a major port. After independence of Pakistan in 1947, Muslim refugees (Muhajirs) migrated to Karachi. The vast majority of Muhajirs spoke Urdu. Today Karachi is predominantlry Urdu speaking city with many other languages also spoken in the city.

The current estimated linguistic distribution of the city is: Urdu: 48.52%; Sindhi: 7.34%;Punjabi: 13.64%; Pashto: 11.96%; Balochi: 4.34%; Saraiki: 2.11%; others: 12.09%. The others include Dari, Gujarati, Dawoodi Bohra, Memon, Marwari, Brahui, Makrani, Khowar, Burushaski, Arabic, Persian and Bengali.^[2]

Religion

Masjid e Tooba

Karachi is predominantly Muslim (Sunni 66% and Shia 34%) city with small religious minorities. The religious breakup of the city is as follows: Muslim: 96.49%; Christian: 2.35%; Hindu: 0.83%; Ahmadi: 0.17%; others 0.13%. The others include Parsis, Jews, Orthodox and Buddhists.^[3][4]

Literature

Poetry is deeply embedded in Pakistani culture and is considered a sign of artistic and intellectual commentary. Karachi boasts a large community of intellectuals who come together in designated open spaces to share their talent in poetry events known as mushairas in the local language. A large number of intellectuals and aspiring poets from all over the nation also flock to Karachi, hoping to find better work opportunities in the city. The theme and subject matter of the poetry can vary immensely, but most are socio-cultural commentaries, often infused with a biting sense of humor.

Performing arts

National Academy of Performing Arts

Karachi is home to some of Pakistan's important cultural institutions. The National Academy of Performing Arts,^[5] located in the newly renovated Hindu Gymkhana offers a two year diploma course in performing arts that include classical music and contemporary theatre. The All Pakistan Music Conference, linked to the 45-year old similar institution in Lahore, has been holding its Annual Music Festival since its inception in 2004. The festival is now a well-established feature of the city life of Karachi that is awaited anxiously and attended by more than 3000 citizens of Karachi as well as people from other cities.^[6]

Aside from regular performances by the nation's biggest musical stars, Karachi also boasts one of the biggest underground music scenes in the country, where traditional musical influences blend with modern, Western style to create a unique brand of fusion music. This style of music has been very popular all across Pakistan and is utilized by most of the nation's up-and-coming musical artists. Many of the nation's emerging musicians have based themselves in Karachi because of excellent employment opportunities in the burgeoning entertainment industry of Karachi. Many of the nation's fresh musical acts can be found in cafes, restaurants and concerts across Karachi, especially in the city's upper middle class and upper class areas.

The National Arts Council (Koocha-e-Saqafat) also has musical performances and mushairas. Karachi has a few museums including the Mohatta Palace Museum and National Museum of Pakistan that regularly have exhibitions related to performance arts. Karachi is also home to the annual Kara Film Festival, which is one of the biggest film festivals in Pakistan and showcases independent Pakistani and international films and documentaries.

Recently, youths inspired by theater and improv have formed Karachi's first drama club, called The Acting Wheel. Groups of young theater enthusiasts meet twice a month to act out famous film and theater scripts spontaneously. These are not rehearsed performance but rather a forum to encourage spontaneous, improv acting. Participants are encouraged to let go of their inhibitions and just act out. Recaps of each act-olution can be found at http://www.theactingwheel.blogspot.com

Shopping

Empress Market in Karachi, circa 1995

Karachiites are avid shoppers, and, as such, Karachi boasts an incredible diversity in terms of shopping, accommodating anyone's preferences and budget. Products that shoppers can buy in Karachi come from a vast variety of sources, from one of the many local cottage industries to authentic brand wear by renowned international designers. The city has many modern, high-end shopping malls such as Park Towers, The Forum and Dolmen Mall, in addition to local mid-range bazaars and a gamut of streetside vendors. In places such as Park Towers and Dolmen Mall, all famous stores such as Khaadi, Amir Adnan, Sputnik Footwear and English Boot House, all have a presence.

Main shopping places are Tariq Road which has clothing shops, Saddar which has electronics market and Boat Basin which has restaurants.

However, due to increased modernization and awareness, the once-flourishing hawking business has recently seen somewhat of a slowdown in most areas of Karachi, especially in regards to street food vendors.

Karachi has a thriving textiles industry, which is one of, if not the largest in Pakistan. This industry alone covers a vast variety of businesses, from large-scale suppliers that cater international demand in developed countries, to locally hand-made goods by grassroots vendors.

Most vendors in Karachi are open to bargaining, which is a common sight at most bazaars and among hawkers. As a result, prices of products vary immensely among every vendor, with the exception of upscale high-end shopping malls, which usually have fixed prices. In Karachi, it is also general knowledge to be cautious when bargaining with vendors, especially in bazaars and with hawkers, as they often sell substandard goods at high prices to unaware shoppers. Apparent foreigners, in particular, are often ripped off.

A major contributor to Karachi's wealth in shopping is that most of its residents belong to the middle class and relatively well-off.

Education

Main article: Education in Karachi

Sports and Recreation

Pakistan cricket team playing against Australia.

Cuisine

Chicken Biryani

Main article: Cuisine of Pakistan

Meat (mainly beef) plays a more dominant role in Karachi food, Curries, pulses like Lentils, called dal, are also very popular. Of all the meats, the most popular are: beef, goat, chicken and seafood. Barbecue food is also extremely popular. Dishes made with rice include pullao and biryani. Different kinds of breads like: Chapati, Naan, Tandoor bread, Paratha and Puri are very popular.

Restaurants

Restaurants include Student Biryani, Chaudry Mateen DineOne, BBQ Tonight, Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi, Pizza Hut, Penny Pizza, Subway, KFC, Mcdonalds, Biryani Centre, Dominos Pizza, Nandos, Papa Johns, Dunkin Donuts, Hot n' Spicy,Mr. Burger, Nimco, Salt 'n' Pepper Village Restaurants, Shan-e-Mughalia, Lal Qila, Usmania restaurant, Bundo Khan, Clifton Grill Restaurant and Copper Kettle.^[7][1]

Most of these restaurants deliver to their clients at home.^[8] [2]

In addition to these resurants there are also streets famous for their restaurants and cuisine, which include Boat Basin, Zamzama and Burns Road.

Festivals

Karachi is a festive city, and many religious and cultural festivities are observed across the city. Religious events like Ramadan, Chaand Raat, Eid, Milad un Nabi and Ashura are among the most prominent festivities and are observed passionately with fervor. Shopping reaches its peak during the Eid season, as not only established businesses but vendors from all over the country come to the city to sell their goods to the city's large population, a majority of which is middle class and relatively well-off compared to most other parts of the country. Many rallies and parades are carried out during the events of Milaad un Nabi, Ashura, Jashn-e-Baharan and Nowruz by religious leaders and followers all across the city. Ethnic and religious minorities, like Christians, Hindus, Ismailis etc. also celebrate their events, although not on as large a scale as Islamic events.

Independence Day, which takes place on August 14, is also a very important event for all Karachiites. A national holiday is commenced all over the country on this date, as homes are decorated with flags and patriotic embellishments, and children sing patriotic songs, known as milli naghmas, to show their love for their nation. The festivity of this day is such that a small cottage industry has emerged in large cities, like Karachi, to supply the decoration demands of Independence Day. And although not as feverish as Independence Day, Defence Day is also passionately observed across the city on 6 September every year. Pakistan Day or Resolution Day is observed on 23 March every year.

Popular media

Television

There are numerous channels which have their headquarters in Karachi

Geo TV, Dawn , ARY, PTV, Samaa and Duniya news have tv stations in Karachi.

Radio

Pakistan Radio

Cinema

See also: Cinema in Karachi

Karachi film industry had its golden days in 1960s when some of the prominent film studios were located in Karachi, making films for the viewership of a large and growing working-class population. With a metropolitan area the film viewership is still popular in Karachi. However, the interest has shifted more towards the Hollywood and other international productions. One of the reasons for the shifting trends is attributed to the moving of film-making industry to Lahore, locally termed as Lollywood. There are several hundred cinema theatres in Karachi with releases in Urdu, English, Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashtu, Balochi, etc.

National Dress

The national dress of Karachi is Shalwar Qameez (Urdu: شلوار قمیض ) is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Shalwar are loose pajama-like trousers. The legs are wide at the top, and narrow at the bottom. The Qameez is a long shirt or tunic. The side seams (known as the chaak) are left open below the waist-line, which gives the wearer greater freedom of movement.

Globalization

Business

Politics

Main article: Politics of Karachi

The city nazim is Mustafa Kamal. He belongs to the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).

Karachi is mainly supportive of MQM, followed by Jamaat Islami, PPP, PMLQ and ANP.[3]

The previous mayor of Karachi was Naimatullah Khan who was from Jamaat Islami party.

Other parties have offices in Karachi such PML -N and Awami Muslim League.

Ethnic communities

Main article: Demographics of Karachi

One of the uniqueness of the Karachi which is not found in other famous cities of the globe is its tolerance to its dwellers to maintain their basic ethnic identity, lifestyles and live together in their respective neighborhoods. For example, Kiamari is known for the Pakhtuns or Kharadar is for Memons and Agha Khanis, similarly Lyari is known for Baloch and Memons, Nazimabad and Liaquatabad are known for Muhajirs (Urdu speaking people), because here in Karachi communities prefer to live in groups or Jamaats or their ‘own kind’, instead of living scattered, as according to mindset of Pakistani people (who being divided in distinctive cultures / identities) it is in their own interest. The mentality has been reinforced as a result of serious clashes which have taken in recent past among different ethnic groups in this city.^[9]

Karachi in Popular Culture of Sindh

Karachi has been sung in many Sindhi songs, notably the folk songs sung in Sindhi marriages, called Sehra (سهرا) and Ladda (لاڏا) such as:

آيلڙي مون ته سُئي وڃائي ڪراچيءَ جي شهر مان مون سُئي گھُرائي

sung by Zarina Baloch and

ڪراچيءَ جي شهر مان منڊيون جوڙايم سونا گل ڪراچيءَ جي موٽر ڀرجي آيا

In addition, Karachi is also known for the legend of Morirro Mirbahar, whose braveness has been praised and sung by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai in his poetry. This legend story has also been picturized in a Sindhi movie Ghatoo Ghar na Ayaa (In Sindhi گھاتُو گھر نه آيا).

Karachi jaa ddeeha' aee' raatioo' (In Sindhi ڪراچيءَ جا ڏينهن ۽ راتيون), Days and Nights of Karachi is a novel written by Muhammad Bakhsh Johar.

See also

• Culture of Pakistan
• Karachi
• History of Karachi
• Climate of Karachi
• City District Government of Karachi
• List of mayors of Karachi
• List of Union Councils of Karachi
• Demographics of Karachi
• Economy of Karachi
• Cinema in Karachi
• List of schools in Karachi
• List of colleges in Karachi
• List of universities in Karachi
• List of sports venues in Karachi
• List of police stations in Karachi
• Karachi International Airport
• Port of Karachi
• Karachi Building Control Authority
• Sheedi Mela
• Pir Mangho Urs

References

1. ^ R Asif (2002) Lyari Expressway: woes of displaced families. Dawn (newspaper). 8 August. Retrieved on 10 January 2008
2. ^ Karachi Demographics Findpk.com
3. ^ Religion in Pakistan Asianinfo.org
4. ^ Religion in Karachi findpk.com
5. ^ National Academy of Performing Arts. "Welcome to National Academy of Performing Arts". http://www.napa.org.pk. Retrieved 2006-04-17. 
6. ^ The All Pakistan Music Conference History of festival Retrieved on January 1, 2008
7. ^ http://www.karachisnob.com/restaurants-karachi.htm
8. ^ http://www.karachisnob.com/restaurants_that_deliver_in_karachi.htm
9. ^ Karachities and their characteristics

External links

• Karachities and their characteristics
• Karachi Cultural Blog
• Dominos Pizza India Blog