HYDERABAD: Thousands of men, women and children clad in traditional dresses and wearing Sindhi capand ajrak celebrated Sindhi culture day with great enthusiasm while participating in cultural programmes held in the streets of almost all big and small cities and towns of the province on Sunday.

In Hyderabad, revellers dancing on the tunes of Sindhi songs travelled to the venue of a major event of the city held outside the local press club.

A couple of Sindhi television channels shared the common stage to welcome arriving rallies. Artists, including Ghulam Hussain who performed his famous peacock dance, and comedian Asghar Khoso were there to entertain the crowd.

Initially, Khaliq Chandio welcomed the rallies but later Zafar Hakro continued the programme in the second segment titled — Hik Sindh, Hik Saqafat (one Sindh, one culture). Music was played at high pitch.

Some speakers who addressed the crowd said that Sindh’s civilisation was quite old. They said Sindh had a rich cultural heritage which bore the province’s identity. They resolved that Sindhi people would not tolerate any attack on their language and culture. They said Sindh was the land of Shah [Abdul Latif Bhitai], Sachal [Sarmast], Sami, Mai Kolachi and Moriro Mirbhar.

Sindhi television channels also organised separate programmes in their studios and arranged talk shows during their special transmission.

Several hundred people from different parts of Tharparkar district gathered at a place in the foothills of Karoonjhar in Nagarparkar to join in the day-long celebration.

Local singers entertained the tourists by singing traditional songs. More events were held in Mithi, Islamkot, Diplo, Kaloi, Kantio, Chhachhro, Chelhar, Dano Dandhal and other towns of the district.

In Badin district, hundreds of the people from different towns travelled in rallies to the city to take part in the main event held outside the local press club.

The rallies were led by artists, leaders of various nationalist groups and political parties and elders of different tribes and communities.

Speaking to them, Ghulam Mustafa Jamali, Haroon Gopang, Tanvir Ahmed Arain, Raziq Khoso and others called for preserving the rich cultural heritage of Sindh. They said all those living in Sindh should close their ranks to forge unity and promote harmony. They also resolved to resist tooth and nail any move leading to a division of the province.

Rallies celebrating the day were also taken out in Tando Bago, Khoski, Talhar, Matli, Golarchi, Kario Ghanwer and other towns. The participants also attended music programmes held to mark the occasion.

Sindh Culture Day programmes were held in many of schools in Mirpurkhas district. School­children presented tableaux and cultural songs to enthral the audience. Various non-governmental organisations organised rallies in Mirpurkhas city, Digri, Mirwah Gorchani, Tando Jan Mohammad, Jhuddo, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Sindhri, Hingorno, Khaan, Jhilori and other towns. At a programme held outside the local press club, speakers told the audience that Sindh had one of the oldest civilisations of the world remains of which must be preserved and taken care of.

In Dadu and Jamshoro districts, as many as 80 big rallies were taken out by thousands of jubilant revellers to celebrate the day.

The main programme was held outside the local press club where leaders of various political and social organisations spoke on rich culture of Sindh. A music programme also featured in the event during which Manzoor Sakhirani, Balak Sindhi, Rasheed Ahmed Charan and other known artists performed.

Cultural shows and music programmes were also held on the campuses of various universities.

In Nawabshah, crowds of schoolchildren along with their parents as well as activists of various nationalist organisations continued to pour in from different parts of Shaheed Benazirabad district all the day to attend the main culture day programme held outside the local press club.

Rallies to mark the day were also taken out in Sakrand, Daur, Bandhi, Qazi Ahmed, Daulatpur, Shahpur Jehanian, 60-Mile, Jam Sahab and other areas.JSQM’s Nawabshah city president Ali Raza Khaskheli rejected the allegation and demanded withdrawal of the FIR and release of the two workers.

AT Shiraz Chowk in Nawabshah, two Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) workers, Sajjad Mallah and Aijaz Baloch, were arrested and booked along with their 46 unknown companions including the group’s district president, Ali Raza Khaskheli, for disgracing the national flag and chanting anti-state slogans.

Rallies and cultural shows to celebrate the day were also held in different cities and towns of Sanghar, Shikarpur and Naushahro Feroze districts.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2019