HYDERABAD: The Sindhi Culture Day was observed with great enthusiasm in many cities and towns of Sindh on Sunday.

Attired in shalwar kameez and wearing Sindhi cap and Ajrak, youth, women and children brought out big and small rallies while dancing on popular Sindhi songs to celebrate the day.

In Hyderabad, many converged outside the local press club as well as Sindh Museum where a Sindhi television channel organised a musical programme to mark the occasion. Najaaf Ali, Manzoor Danish, Farah Shaheen, Saima Sahar and Zamin Ali sang different songs for the charged crowd at the museum.

Journalist Khalid Chandio welcomed different rallies outside the local press club from the stage and invited different people for their brief comments. No untoward incident was reported till the filing of this report. Separate rallies were taken out by activists of the PPP, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Jeay Sindh Mahaz, Sindhi Taraqqi-pasand Party, Awami Jamhoori Party, Sindh National Party, Sindhi Hari Tehrik, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and Jeay Sindh Qaum Parast Party.

Similar rallies were taken out in Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan, Kotri, Jamshoro, and Tandojam.

People decorated their vehicles with Ajraks and some put a replica of Sindhi cap on their car roofs. Rallies started in the afternoon and continued till 5pm.

In Mirpurkhas, different political parties and NGOs held programmes on the occassion.

According to a report, a cultural programme was also organised at the zonal office of the MQM in which MPA Dr Zafar Kamali, zonal incharge Mujibul Haq and other workers and office-bearers, including local journalists, participated. rallies were also taken out by different political parties and NGOs in Kot Ghulam Muhammad, Digri, Jhuddo, Naokot and Tando Jan Muhammad.

Dr Kamali and others distributed Sindhi caps and Ajraks among local newsmen.

Zonal incharge Mujibul Haq said that celebrating the day was part of life of the people living in Sindh, including Urdu-speaking people and others. The MQM was against any discriminatory attitude and wanted the government to give equal rights to the poor, he added.

MPA Dr Zafar Kamali said: “We are also celebrating the Sindhi Culture Day today because it is the message of the MQM that all the people living in Sindh were Sindhi and Sindhi culture belongs to all those residing in the province.”

A large rally was taken out under the banner of the Awami Sujag Tehreek Mirpurkhas from Kori village to the local press club led by Salah Kori.

Another rally was taken out by PML-N Mirpurkhas from its office to the local press club led by Raja Abdul Haq. The PPP also took out rallies to the press club.

Police made strict security arrangements on the occasion.

In Badin, the culture day was celebrated to express feelings of unity by wearing Sindhi cap and Ajraks. Other areas where events were organised included Tando Bago, Matli, Talhar, Kadhan, Pangrio, Tando Ghulam Ali, Kario Ghanwar, Khoski, Shadi Large, Nindo Shahar and Khorwah.

Clad in traditional clothes, people, especially children and students, took out rallies and held other programmes to mark the day in Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot, Nangarparkar, Chhachhro, Kaloi and other towns of Tharparkar district.

People from villages and towns reached the district headquarter town Badin on horses, camels, bullock carts and various other vehicles to join a grand gathering held at the Aiwan-i-Sahafat. Children and women were also seen wearing Ajrak.

Several political leaders, traders, TV artists and journalists participated in the rally and walked through the city’s main thoroughfares before reaching the press club.

Addressing the participants, speakers demanded to preserve Sindhi’s cultural heritage. They said Sindhi language was ancient and rich in literature. Its writers had contributed extensively in various forms of literature in poetry and prose, they said.

Several rallies were taken out in Naushahro Feroze district by journalists, JSQM, students and teachers. A large number of citizens took part in programmes held in Mahrabpur, Kandiaro, Lakha Road, Bahria city, Darbelo, Bahria Road, Tharoshah, Mithiani, New Jatoi, Moro, Darya Khan Mari, Padidan, Halani, Kotri Kabir, Khanwahen, Muhabatdero and other towns and villages of the district.

Wearing Sindhi cap and Ajraks, the participants were seen dancing and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Musical shows and stage programmes were also arranged at different places, including Mahrabpur.

The MQM also celeberated the cultural day and arranged a programme at its zonal office in Naushahro Feroze.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2015