DISTRICT OKARA IN THE WINDOW  OF CULTURE:                                  

CULTURE: can be defined in many different ways. Culture may be defined as behavior peculiar to human beings together with material objects used. Culture consists of  language, ideas, values, attributes, beliefs, customs, codes, institutions, work and art,
religion, law, morality, ceremonies and festivals.

It is true that the culture of OKARA DISTRICT is PAKISTANI  PUNJABI culture. Most of population of district Okara are  villagers. Villagers are  simple and hard working .It is also true that the culture cannot be defined well in words. In words the culture of DISTRICT OKARA is as:

RELIGION: As ISLAM is the official religion of PAKISTAN   and in OKARA DISTRICT there are 99% muslims so only ISLAM is the religion which is professed and practiced by the people of OKARA DISTRICT.

FOOD: OKARVIANS are fond of many things.Villagers, They usually like to eat SAAG and MAKAI.KI  ROTI. DAL CHAWAL,BIRYANI.In merrage ceremonies MUTTON CURRY with ROTI is served to baraties.In summer at noon they usually drink LASSEE.In brakefast they eat BUTTER with NAAN or PARATHA or they also like to eat HALWA with PURI.The eduacted people prefer to eat fast food and chat patey khanyein.

DRESS:  A great variety of dresses are worn by the OKARVIANS.The educated people wear pent shirt and SHALWAR KAMIZ is the national dress of  Pakistan however the villagers wear DHOTI and TURBAN.KHUSSA WITH DHOTI AND TARBAN.Most of the villagers wear Khusa which is the traditional shoe of Punajabies all over the world.

OCCUPATIONS: In OKARA DISTRICT most of the people are farmer in profession in villages. They are engaged in agriculture either directly or indirectly. Industrial labour has increased after the establishment of factories in different places of the district. Some people are engaged in-business and Government service also.

FOLK & DANCES:   Like other Punjabies, OKARVIANS also love with folk tales and songs.Sohni Mahiwal and Hir-Ranjah are a great source of amusement for them.Punjabi dances BHANGRA and LUDI also provide a great amusement for  them. Educated people love modern music)

THE THREE DAYS OF A TRADITIONAL WEDDING(SHADI):  MEHNDI:This is the event where you put HENNA on the brid's hands.This event is very colourful and is full of traditional songs   and dances as BHANGRA and LUDI.
NIKAH: This part of ceremony is given by the brid's faimly.This is the sighning of official paperwork  in the presence of MOLVI or MULAH (Islamic Priest). After sighning these papers and doing some religious ceremony, the couple is declared husband and wife.This is the actual wedding ceremony and all guests are invited. Nikah is performed in the presence of guests and then they eat. WALIMA:The groom's side invites all the guests to meet on this, the third day. Both husband and wife welcome the guests.
 
SOCIAL LIFE:  DERA and PUNCHAIT system are the important factors of social life of the village.

Written and observed by Wasi Tahir Ch.  EMAIL okara@okara.org Thanks to Wasi Tahir for helping us.

Note: if you don't agree with this culture of the Okara or have any comments or observed different then contact Wasi Tahir directly or contact us at info@okara.org for online 24 information center click here.
 

LINKING OKARA PEOPLE WWW.OKARA.ORG THE GATEWAY TO OKARA