HYDERABAD: People, old, young, women and children, forgot their various ethnic, religious and political hues and merged into one colour as they took part in province-wide festivities of the Sindhi culture week that officially concluded on Sunday.

In Hyderabad, a large number of people wearing Ajrak and Sindhi cap who were associated with different organisations and groups, and members of general public took out rallies to celebrate the Sindhi culture.

Almost all rallies that started different places in the city converged on the press club where they participated in a programme organised by a Sindhi TV channel. Another Sindhi media group had organised a similar function at Sindh Museum.

Many youth clad in Ajrak and Sindhi cap and carrying axes in their hands danced to folk songs that eulogized Sindhi culture on main squares and roads throughout the day.

A welcome camp was set up outside the General Post Office where music was being played at full volume to the delight of revelers.

Large groups of jubilant youth took part in rallies on motorcycle in Qasimabad, Latifabad, Hyderabad city and Hyderabad rural to celebrate culture.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan lawmakers Rashid Khilji, Zubair Ahmed Khan, Rana Ansar, district organiser Siraj Rajput and others also organised a programme at the press club to mark the day.

Rallies were staged by Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Awami Tehreek, Sindh United Party, PPP-Shaheed Bhutto, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Bashir, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Arisar, PML-N, Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party, Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Riaz, Sindh National Tehreek, Sindh Hari Committee, civil society organisations, trade bodies and various unions.

Similar rallies were taken out and programmes were organised in Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan.

BADIN: Hundreds of people wearing Ajrak and Sindhi cap arrived in Badin from nearby villages on motorcycles, bullock-carts, camel-carts, horses and camels to participate in a rally to celebrate Sindhi culture.

Activists of civil society organisations, journalists and social activists also took part in cultural programmes, rallies, debates, tableaux and literary sittings held across the town.

All the rallies started from Awan-i-Sahafat and returned to the same point after marching on main thoroughfares of the town. They were raising slogans Sindh asan ji jeejal maa, Sindhi saqafat zindahabad etc.

The participants demanded the Sindh government should make it compulsory for officials to wear Sindhi cap and Ajrak during their duties.

DADU: A large number of women, children, artistes, activists of various political parties and members of general public wearing Ajrak and Sindhi cap participated in a big rally and danced to folk songs as they marched on roads and streets to celebrate Sindhi culture.

District police had organised a gathering round a bonfire called Mach Kachehry in Sindhi at Police Line and students and staff of several educational institutions, including Sindh University, Dadu campus, and Ustab Bukhari Degree College also took out rallies.

Similar programmes were held in Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar, Johi, Sehwan, Bhan Syedabad, Sann, Kotri, Jamshoro and Nooribabad and Thana Bula Khan. A big musical programme was organised at SSP Chowk where famous singers sang folk songs eulogising Sindhi culture.

KHAIRPUR: Activists of JSQM, SUP, Anjuman-i-Tajran, Sarrafa Association, Push-cart Association, Donkey-Cart Association, Muttahida Mazdoor Federation, PPP, PML-F and students of private and public schools, teachers, civil society activists, citizens, poets, literary persons, artists and labourers participated in a large rally for Sindhi culture.

The rally started from Chattri Chowk and concluded at Mariam Taup Chowk. Youths and schoolchildren among the participants were clad in traditional Sindhi costume while others were wearing Sindhi caps and Ajraks.

The leaders who spoke at the rally said that Sindh had one of the oldest civilisations of the world and it was necessary to celebrate its culture and promote the civilisation.

MIRPURKHAS: Several political parties and civil society organisations celebrated Sindhi culture by organising rallies and different other programmes in the town.

MQM-P Mirpurkhas zone held a programme and a number of political parties including JSQM, SUP, PPP, Panhwar Ittehad and Pooj Hindu Panchayat took out rallies in which youths wearing Ajraks and Sindhi caps took part while riding their motorcycles.

They marched on main roads and streets before converging on the press club where they listened to speeches by their leaders and danced to Sindhi folk songs.

The leaders highlighted the importance of the day and said that adherence to a common culture forged unity and harmony among people.

At a programme organised by PPP in Jinnah hall, MPA Dr Zafar Ahmed Kamali said that all those residing in Sindh were Sindhis and they should live together like brothers by burying their differences in the greater interest of Sindh.

Journalists, MQM leaders, chairman of municipal committee and other leaders of various political and civil society organisations also spoke at the programme. Later, Sindhi caps and Ajraks were given away to journalists.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2016