KARACHI: Old and young, men, women and children in Sindhi cultural attire of traditional caps, Ajraks or turbans poured out onto the streets, sang and danced to nationalistic songs on roads to celebrate Sindhi culture day across Sindh on Sunday.

In Karachi, a large number of men, women and children wearing brightly coloured and embroidered dresses, caps and Ajraks from various neighbourhoods gathered in their thousands, sang and danced in the main cultural programme of the city held outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC).

The programme organisers said that it had been the ninth year since the day was celebrated for the first time in December 2009 as a token of protest against an anchorperson of a private TV channel who had criticised the then President Asif Ali Zardari for wearing Sindhi cap during foreign tours.

The comments had deeply hurt sentiments of Sindhis who, observed the day of unity to celebrate rich Sindhi culture as a form of protest. This year’s theme for the event was ‘Sindh a land of prosperity and togetherness’.

Several political and nationalist parties and groups took out rallies from Keamari, Lyari, Baldia, Manghopir, Malir, Korangi, Gulshan-i-Hadeed, Ibrahim Hyderi and others parts of the city and merged into the main assembly outside the KPC.

Some non-governmental organisations and certain media outlets had separately arranged musical events, which also attracted large audience to celebrate the day. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) took out a big rally which also converged on KPC after marching on different roads.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah celebrated the day with differently-abled persons by organising a reception for them at CM House and presenting them Sindhi caps and Ajraks.

He said: “I decided to celebrate the culture day with you because you are very special to me and I am trying to solve your problems on a priority basis.”

HYDERABAD: Thousands celebrated the culture day with traditional enthusiasm as they took out rallies from different parts of the city and danced to popular nationalistic songs.

Hyderabad Press Club partnered with media organisations like Dharti TV, daily Awami Awaz, Daily Sobh and others to celebrate the day. Artists Marwal, Khushbo Laghari, Gul Hassan Gul, Hina Marvi, Sana Soomro and other performed at the programme.

Local PTI women wing leader Nuzhat Pathan, Quami Awami Tehreek (QAT) leader Dr Aziz Talpur and others also participated in the programme.

Daily Kawish and KTN celebrated ‘Ekta’ (unity) day separately at Sindh Museum in which thousands took part. Yaqoob Soomro offered prayers for the prosperity and integrity of Sindh.

Activists of different parties also brought out rallies to mark the day. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar celebrated the day by presenting Sindhi caps to journalists after holding a press conference about his party’s Dec 8 public meeting in the city.

LARKANA: Several political and social organisations celebrated the day in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts by taking out rallies.

Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwer Siyal and Larkana Deputy Commissioner Kashif Tipu wearing Sindhi cap and Ajrak also joined the jubilant crowds at the main function of the day outside the press club.

Stalls were set up beside the main stage where caps and books were being sold. Associations of Hindus, Bagris and Jogis also took out rallies and joined the main function.

SUKKUR: Various political and social organisations and communities celebrated the day in Sukkur, Rohri, Kandhra, Salehpat, Pano Akil, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Daharki, Khanpur Mahar, Ubauro, Thull, Garhi Khero, Jacobabad, Kandhkot, Kashmore, Tangwani, Ghouspur, Karampur and other towns.

People gathered in front of press clubs, took out rallies and marched on roads.

In Sukkur, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Sindh United Party (SUP), Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party (STP), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and Jeay Sindh Students Federation (JSSF) organised separate rallies.

The day was also celebrated in civil hospital where doctors, nurses and paramedics wore Sindhi caps and Ajraks and took out a rally. Prisoners in central jail also took part in the day’s festivities.

DADU: Activists of PPP, PPP-SB, PTI, JSQM, JSSF, JST, STP, and various social organisations took out rallies to mark the day. Wearing Sindhi caps, turbans, Ajraks and traditional dresses, they danced to nationalistic songs on streets.

Students of public and private schools took out rallies while Dadu Press Club arranged a programme where local singers performed.

Sindhi TV channels including KTN, Sindh TV, Mehran TV and Awaz TV took out rallies and special programmes were held at public and private schools where students presented tableaus and speech contests.

MIRPURKHAS: Nationalist, social and political parties took out rallies and held programmers to mark the culture day in which youths, children and elderly took part. Wearing Sindhi caps and Ajraks and carrying flags and placards they marched on main roads while dancing to the tune of nationalistic songs.

Roshan Pakistan Roshan Mirpurkhas Forum in collaboration with National Assembly of Pakistan for Youth distributed gifts among children at Mirpurkhas Civil Hospital to mark the day.

MITHI: Rallies, street dances and cultural sports including camel and horse races were part of the day’s festivities in Mithi, Islamkot, Nagarparkar, Chhachhro, Diplo, Chelhar, Kaloi, Kantio and other towns of the district.

Students, members of civil society and workers of political and nationalist parties took out rallies and local artists and singers performed on roads to mark the day.

BADIN: All big and small towns of the district wore a festive look as hundreds of people took to the streets in Badin, Tando Bago, Matli, Talhar, Golarchi, Kario Ghanwar, Rajo Khanani, Pangrio, Kadhan, Nindo Shahar, Tando Ghulam Ali, Khorwah, Shadi Large, Khoski and other towns to celebrate the day.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2017