Culture, Customs and Traditions

Religion dominates cultural pattern of the people of the district. The population of the district is almost Muslim. Spiritual leaders or pirs have a great influence over public particularly illiterates. The people also believe much in the power of Pirs. The Pathans generally are very strict in observing prayers, keeping fast and performing other religious duties. The Jats and Balochs, though religious minded are not so strict as the Pathans.

Being descendants of warriors, the people of the area feel pleasure in hunting, shooting, riding and such other games. Horse breeding is common in villages due to lack of modern transport facilities and also of their interest in riding. Fishing by nets is a popular sport in the villages near the banks of the river. Hockey, Foot Ball and Volley Ball are played in schools and colleges, Kabaddy, douda, wrestling and tent pegging are the favourite games of the villagers.

Music is popular and the people delight themselves, by plying flute, thali, Ghara, dhol-sharn, dholak, tabla, harmonium, tamboora and ek-tara. However, flute is more popular. The pathans have their own classical dances, but the other people are fond of jhumer, dario and dharak. The Pushto epics songs are sung by the Pathans but the other people are found of Hindko folk songs.

Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Eid-milad-un-Nabi and Nau-roz are the usual festivals. All sects celebrate eid-milad-un-Nabi with great pomp and show. National days are enthusiastically celebrated by the public and illuminations. Decorations and various games are arranged. Other festivals are Mela Bilot, Mela Shah Alam, Mela Sabir Shah and annual Horse and Cattle show.

Inter-family marriages are common in the district. A girl is engaged by her parents at an early age, generally, on payment of money by the suitor or in exchange of the engagement of a girl in the suitor's family with a boy in the girl's family. Among the Bhittanis, if parents of both the parties agree, then the father of guardian of the boy calls on the girl's father along with a Jirga. A formal request is made and date for nikah and wida ceremony is fixes. In jat and Baloch tribes mutual agreement of parents of both the parties is considered sufficient for betrothals. Girls are seldom consulted.

On the fixed date the bridegroom is taken to the house of bride in the shape of a procession by his relatives. On reaching the marriage procession at the bridegroom's house gun shots and crackers are fired. Girl's father serves the guests with a feast. Ladies sing songs and play dholak on this occasion. The non-pathan tribes observe custom of sehra bandi but the Pathans seldom observe this custom.