Sindhi Cultural Day

Sindhi Cultural Day
Sindhi cap, one of the symbols of Sindhi culture
Observed by	People of Sindh, Pakistan and by Sindhi community all over the world
Type	Public
Significance	Honors the heritage and civilization of Indus Valley Civilization
Date	1st Sunday of December
Frequency	Annual

Sindhi Cultural Day (Sindhi: سنڌي ثقافتي ڏينھن‎, Urdu: سندھی ثقافتی دن‎) and also known as 'Aekta jo ddihaarro' is widely celebrated with traditional enthusiasm to spotlight the centuries-old rich culture of Sindh. The day is celebrated all over Sindh, and amongst the Sindhi diaspora around the world. Cultural day is the celebration, demonstration of culture of Sindh, Sindhis in Sindh and Sindhi diaspora all over the world celebrate this day to demonstrate peaceful identity of Sindhi culture, acquire attention of the world towards the rich heritage, culture of Sindh. On this jubilation people gathers in all major cities of Sindh at Press Clubs, and other places and arrange various activities of Literary (Poetic) gatherings, Mach Katchehri (gathering in a place and sitting round in a circle and the fire on sticks in the center.) Musical concerts, Seminars, lecture programs and rallies. It is also a symbol of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization.^[1]

Each year Sindhis celebrate Sindhi Cultural day worldwide on first Sunday (First week) of December. On the occasion people wearing Ajrak & Sindhi Topi, traditional block printed shawl the musical programmes and rallies are held in many cities to mark the day with zeal.Major hallmarks of cities and towns are decorated with Sindhi Ajrak to highlight the cultural values of Sindh. The people across Sindh exchange gifts of Ajrak and Topi at various ceremonies. Even, the children and women are dressed up in Ajrak, assembling at the grand gathering, where famous Sindhi singers sing Sindhi songs, which depicts peace and love message of Sindh. The musical performances of the artists compel the participants to dance on Sindhi tunes and national song ‘Jeay Sindh Jeay-Sindh Wara Jean’.

All Political, social and religious organizations of Sindh, besides the Sindh culture department and administrations of various schools, colleges and universities, organize variety of events including seminars, debates, folk music programmes, drama and theatrics performances, tableau and literary sittings to mark this annual festivity. Sindhi culture, history and heritage are highlighted at the events.

History

Cultural day is observed to display solidarity among the Sindhi-speaking masses; the event is celebrated throughout Sindh and all over the world. The culture and heritage day was celebrated for the first time on December 6, 2009 (as the Sindhi Topi Day) as a backlash to the comments of anchorperson Dr. Shahid Masood who had criticized President Asif Ali Zardari for wearing a Sindhi cap on his foreign tours. People across the Sindh province condemned Masood’s comments via SMS, which ultimately resulted in the announcement of celebrating the Sindhi Topi Day. Ever since, Sindhi media groups have also started to celebrate the day as ‘Sindhi Cultural Day’. The Sindhi language TV channels including KTN, Sindh TV, Awaz TV and Mehran TV broadcast live and special programmes on the culture of Sindh, besides these media outlets separately arrange the mega musical events, which also attract large audience to celebrate the Culture Day every year.

Timeline

This is the timeline of consecutive celebration of the Sindhi Cultural day

2012

Karachi:Teen Talwar wrapped in Ajrak in connection with Sindhi Cultural day

Sindhi cultural day was celebrated on December 2012.

2016

Sindhi Cultural Day 2016

This year all Sindhi media including KTN and Sindh TV mutually celebrated cultural day on 4 December, a big number of people gathered at the Karachi Press Club, where a large stage was decorated with Pana-flexes.^{[2][3][4][express 1]}

The US Consulate General, Karachi celebrated cultural day of Sindh. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also celebrated in Lahore during his political program ^[5][6]

Gallery

Sindhi Cap-front view1

Sindhi Cap-Topview brighten

Sindhi Cap-Botton front view

Sindhi Cultural Day 2016

See also

• Culture of Sindh
• Sindhi cuisine

References