Pakistan: Your Travel Destination 2019 - Come and Listen to the Rich Folk Music of Pakistan

Pakistan is not only rich in its natural trove, but has an equally rich culture and folk music that mystifies the listeners and spellbound them for as long as there is music in the air. We have indigenous music instruments like dhol ( a two sided elongated drum) which have rich sound not only to move the folk artists and the audience, but also make the horses and camels dance with its heavy beat. 

The folklore are artistically converted into music which are often sung in villages when the sun has set and moonlight adds mystery to the music being played and the voices of folk singers adding to the mysticism. Each place and province has its own music, its own heroes to eulogize and love stories retold. Some of the famous folk songs include "Abeeti" (a love song sung by young women), "Allah Hoo" (a Muslim lullaby) and "Ashoor Jan" (a patriotic love song). Badala (or Sandara) is a historically significant form of Pashto folk music that focuses on local romance, epics, folktales, fables, local heroes and historical events. Badala also includes Pashto translations of epics and romance from Arabic and Persian. There are many talented names who are living this music genre.

Besides, Jugni, Sammi, Luddi are some of the tunes which make people move and dance on the rhythmic tunes. In fact it is the rhythm of music which unifies Pakistan and music spills away from the bounds of one province or a place to the other and everyone seems to be singing and laughing together.

Sometimes back, a beautiful musical composition was composed that very comprehensively combines music of all provinces of Pakistan - a composition which has since been my favourite. But this is just the bird's eye view of the otherwise very rich folk music of Pakistan, which must be listened live. Even if one doesn't understand the lyrics, the rich music played on indigenous instruments mesmerizes the listener. 

Watch the video below which is blend of rich drumbeat enriched by the musical instruments that compels the dancers to dance and dance on the rhythm of folk tunes - that is why this is my favourites!!

Do come to Pakistan and be part of our rich cultural heritage and folk music fro as long as you are with us. But once you go back, you will carry the nostalgia. Try it !!

Photo | References | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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History, Heritage and the Old

History, heritage and the old have one thing common – all reflect past. The young when energetic and thriving with warm blood seldom care for values, history, heritage of any kind. Nor are the interested in listening to what happened to who and why from their elders. Their concerns lie in the present and the future. They in fact want to live in future today. Any distracters spoil their mood and time.

But for us, the old, our treasure lies in our past – distant or far. Just like that old box stored somewhere in the junk which houses our yester memories in the form of coins, letters, stamps, souvenirs, photos or other similar objects. I still remember when I was a child, I had a black wooden box which housed my prize possessions – not of much consequence, but whenever there was a brotherly quarrel, my elder brothers used to threaten me that they would go and take over my black box. And that was enough to blackmail me to give in.

Our history and the heritage are just like my black box – storing in valuable information, relics of the past and values that shape our destinies, our present and the future. But one learns to regard the black box of history only when one has crossed over to an age when black hair turn grey and then white or else disappear altogether.

While it is understandable what is contained in the history, heritage has something more valuable, a derivative of our history, natural treasures, flora and fauna, the landscape, art and culture, customs and traditions and inherited practices of our old. Our kinship and relations with our own kind, near and dear ones, friends and foe, noble and the evil is also part of our heritage.

But there is something refreshing - while the young disregard the history and the heritage, they dump the old in the old homes so as to find a level playing ground for themselves. But when one or all these three relics of the past, stored in the black box, are threatened, they clean the dust off the box and put these on the mantle piece – only to put them back in the black box and when the threat is over or the clouds have cleared, and once again start to live in their future today – leaving the black box in the junk once again.

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