Gilgit

Culture
of
Gilgit-Baltistan
By: Junaid Hassan
BBA (1st
Semister)

Gilgit-Baltistan
Northern Area Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan)
Elevation 1,500 m (4,900 ft)
Population (1998 censes) 216,760

Culture of Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit is the Capital
Home to 12 of the world’s 30 tallest peak’s
Border with China & Jammu/Kashmir
Home to breathtakingly beautiful
Karakorum Highway
The highest paved international road in the
world

City's ancient name was Sargin
Later to be known as Gilit
Still referred as Gilit or Sargin-Gilit by local
people.
In Burushaski language it is named
Geelt
Wakhi and Khowar it is called Gilt
Ghallata is considered its name in ancient
Sanskrit literature.

Important city on the Silk Road
Considered as a Buddhism corridor
ruled for centuries by the local
Trakhàn Dynasty with death of Raja
Abus in 1810
Trakhàn were muslim’s who over
thron Hindu’s Dynasty
History

In 1800 it was a flourished land but was destroyed but a 50
year war’s and by the great Indus flood in 1841.
The rulers were changed accordingly.
Raja Abus - Sulaiman raja of Yasin - Azad Khan, Raja of
Punial - Tair Shah, Raja of Buroshall (Nagar) - Shah
Sakandar inherited - Gaur Rahman, Raja of Yasin.
in 1842, Shah Sakandar's brother, Karim Khan, expelled
Gaur Rahman with the support of a Sikh army from Kashmir
Karim Khan ruled until Gilgit was ceded to
Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir in 1846 by the Treaty of
Amritsar
In 1877, in order to guard against the advance of Russia, the
British Government, acting as the suzerain power
of Kashmir, established the Gilgit Agency.
In 1935, the British leased Gilgit town plus most of the Gilgit
Agency for 60 years
After Pakistan Independence, UN intervention, and a
ceasefire was agreed between Pakistan & India on 31
December 1948, leaving Pakistan with Gilgit-Baltistan.

Cold desert climate
Due to its geographical location,
prevalent season of Gilgit is winter
Lacks significant rainfall, averaging in
120 to 240 millimetres
Summer is brief and hot
Landslides and avalanches are
frequent in the area
Climate

Climate data for Gilgit
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average
high °C
(°F)
9.3
(48.7)
12.0
(53.6)
17.9
(64.2)
23.9
(75)
28.4
(83.1)
34.3
(93.7)
36.1
(97)
35.3
(95.5)
31.6
(88.9)
25.3
(77.5)
17.8
(64)
11.0
(51.8)
23.6
(74.5)
Average
low °C
(°F)
−2.7
(27.1)
2.5
(36.5)
5.4
(41.7)
9.4
(48.9)
11.7
(53.1)
15.2
(59.4)
18.8
(65.8)
18.1
(64.6)
12.7
(54.9)
6.6
(43.9)
.6
(33.1)
−2.4
(27.7)
7.8
(46)
Rainfall
mm
(inches)
4.0
(0.157)
6.0
(0.236)
12.6
(0.496)
23.0
(0.906)
25.3
(0.996)
6.1
(0.24)
15.6
(0.614)
15.5
(0.61)
6.5
(0.256)
8.4
(0.331)
1.8
(0.071)
4.1
(0.161)
128.9
(5.075)
Source: [18]

First discovered in 1931
contain Buddhist texts such as four sutras from the
Buddhist canon, including the famous Lotus Sutra
Manuscripts written on birch bark in the Buddhist
form of Sanskrit in the Sharada script
Cover’s a wide range of themes such
as iconometry, folk, tales, philosophy,
medicine and several related areas of life and
general knowledge
Nominated in 2006 to be included on the
UNESCO Memory of the World
Written in the 5th to 6th centuries AD
Gilgit manuscripts

Shina (language) with several dialects like
Asturjaa, Kharuchaa, chilasi) is the language
of 60% of the population
Balti dialect, a sub-dialect of Ladakhi and part
of the Tibetan languages group, is spoken by
the entire population of Baltistan
Minor languages in the region include Wakhi,
spoken in upper Hunza
Khowar is the language of Ghizer
Burushaski is an isolated language spoken in
Hunza, Nagar, Yasin
Domaaki, spoken by the musician clans in the
region
A small minority of people also speak Pashto
Culture
LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

Urdu is the lingua franca of the
region, understood by most of the
inhabitants
English is fairly widely spoken among
the educated classes and those
involved in the tourist industry

Shina is all about bringing harmony
among society through the
humanism, tolerance and pluralism
Literary and poetical works of Abdul
Khaliq Taj and Jamshed Dukhi who
have through their work strived to
forge unity among the people of
different ethnicities are renowned

Balti remained under adverse conditions, still it has
proved to be a very fertile language capable of
creating several categories/ kinds of folk and
classical literature
Prose is not find except Proverbs (in hundreds)
and some Epics and Sagas (of King Kesar/Gesar,
Rgyalucho-Lo-bZang and Rgyalu-Srasbu and
some others), all in oral tradition
Balti literature has adopted numerous Persian
styles of verse and vocables that have amplified
the beauty and melody of its poetry.

unique continuity of design, usually
with one central room built around the
hearth
The room is laid out in raised
platforms at different heights, each for
a certain purpose, with five symbolic
pillars and a diamond-shaped hole in
the roof for smoke and light.
ARCHITECTURE

Traditional Wakhi houses are single storied, built of mud and
stones
The floor is mud with carpets or animal skins and the door,
roof-hole, pillars, and sometimes the platforms are made of
wood
In the older houses the outside door is about 1.5 meters tall
to preserve heat
Light comes from a skylight, the door, the fire, and oil lamps
The hearth at center is usually fed with brush or yak dung
The pillars have a peculiar four-spiral device with a fifth
spike, said to represent the fingers of the hand, and the five
holy personalities of Ismailism.

The buildings in Baltistan show great indebtedness
to Kashmiri style of architecture
The rich carvings on the window frames, door
frames, at the arches and panel of the verandahs,
while the top horizontal panels all show various
geometric designs, the verandah arches which are
trefoil and stilted have scroll designs at the
tympanums
Some buildings have inscriptions fixed over the
doorway
They are mostly historic in content
Historical view of Altit Fort, Baltit Fort, Ganish fort
and skyscraper mountains is also a rich example
of architecture.

ARTS & CRAFTS
Being on silk road arts and crafts of Gilgit are
renowned worldwide.
Dori work is done on Choghas or ceremonial
gowns
Embroidered caps and garments are specialties of
Gilgit and hunza.
Carpet weaving on handlooms in a simple design
formations is also specialty of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Stone work (sharma) is one of the famous craft of
the province for making elaborated stoneware
There are traditional apricot spoons
Hard, seasoned walnut-wood lends itself well to
the artistry of the wood-carver’s hand
Walnut-wood carvers also produce decorative
boxes, salad bowls, trays and cigarette-boxes
Diamer is famous by its pine forest. Pine wood is
used in good quality of furniture.
ARTS & CRAFTS

Black
Tourmaline
Ruby
Aqua Marine
Water Milan
Tourmaline
Spene
Quartz
Emerald

Ibex hair is used to make hand woven
floor rugs
These firm rugs receive their
decorative embroidery usually done by
girls
The natural creamy-white base can
also be dyed in vivid colours.

There are other floor-coverings that are
unique
Kimma is used for making Numdah. They
are brightly embroidered in metro rectangle
to small round ones which can be scattered
all over a room to lend it warmth and
colour.
The gabba is another variety of floor-
covering. These are exotic, multi-coloured
and geometrically patterned rug.
Embroidered wallets, key chains, caps and
other products are also noticeable.

MUSICS & DANCES
The famous trio band music is played in this
region as in most of the other regions. On the
rhythm of this loud music, men love to dance in
their typical way. There are some variations in
lyrics from region to region.

Gilgit, Ghizer Yasin,
Puniyal,and Gupis
favorite rhythm is
Alghani
Ajoli rhythm is
played during
departure of bride
from her house

Souse is a martial rhythm and fast
rhythm, played when sword dance is
performed. Hunza people’s favorite
rhythm is Dani.

Instruments commonly used in Gilgit
Baltistan are, Dadang (drum), Damal and
Surnai while some other instruments like
Sitar, Gabi(flut) Rabab and duff represent
the different areas. Beside these khling-boo,
chang, porgho-too etc instruments are used
in Baltistan region.

Old Man Dance is performed by more
than one man wear some old style
dresses and wear local hat and
dance.

Sword Dance is a unique dance that
is performed by men taking one
sword in right and Shield in left. One
to six participants as pair can dance.

DRESSES AND ORNAMENTS
men generally dress in woolen stuffs of
home manufacture, their garments being
the coat (anga), trousers(pyjama) of dark
thick cloth, cap(topi) familiar to all hill men,
and very generally a long frock coat
(bakhu), while their shoes are the same as
those worn every where in the hills
Though sometimes they wear woolen
boots of chequered color and are soled
with rope very ingeniously and finely
plaited. There is a bright iron pipe and a
knife in sheath struck in his belt.

Women dress consists of tight fitting Pyjama and a lady’s
gown
A shirt like a Punjabi kurta is worn as an under cloth
A sash is worn round the waist over the gown
The lining on the gown is some times embroidered along the
margins
The favorite colors are black, red and blue
Head-gear which goes one to one and half yards down the
back and with which the face can be covered
In winters sometimes ladies wear thick shawl like woolen
Chadders
The hair is plaited into a tail which comes down to the
shoulder-blades and sometimes a little lower
Long woolen boots complete the description.

Wedding dress of women of Gilgit-Baltistan
has a highly decorated bodice
It is so heavily worked front and back in
geometric designs that the shoulders stand
out from the body
The pompoms are made of Hunza wool
The wide sleeves extend past the hands
are also elaborately embroidered on the
cuffs
The swirling skirt is made of 23 yards of
printed cotton.

TRADITIONAL FOOD
Food in Gilgit-Baltistan involves the use of mild
aromatic spices and less oil
Blending local and foreign recipes (fusion food)
such as Pakistani Chinese is common in large
urban centres.
The origins of Balti cooking are wide ranging and
owe as much to China (with a slight resemblance
to the spicy cooking of Szechuan) and Tibet as
well as to the ancestry of the Mirpuris, the tastes
of the Moghul emperors, the aromatic spices of
Kashmir, and the ‘winter foods’ of lands high in the
mountains.”

Balti cuisine offers very large “Karack” naan bread
pieces, meant to be shared by the whole table
Ful-cobi ne mutter jo shaak / Cauliflower and Peas
curry, Tandoori Bateta ne Ful Cobi / Tandoori
Cauliflower and Potatoes, Machi Bhat / Spicy
Coconutty Salmon with Rice , Tikkha Chilla,
Bharela Marcha / Stuffed Peppers , Bakala jo soup
. Mixed Vegetable Soup, Khajur ne Akrot jo Cake /
Date and Walnut Cake, kebabs, bateta saak
(potato curry), chicken saak (chicken curry) and
rice are the traditional specialities of Gilgit-
Baltistan
In Ismaili community, the relatively small Samosas
having special recipe is famous.

Yak’s milk is given special importance
It is used for making butter that has a very
high fat content
It is considered as the best present that a
family can give to another
Those living in the remote regions lead
simple lives and the monasteries in the
vicinity have a great impact on their lives.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
Gilgit-Baltistan has been influenced by various cultures and civilizations throughout
history
Its unique location – the main trading route between India, China and Central Asia (Silk
Route) passed through the area – not only made it a meeting place for traders and
pilgrims, but also attracted emperors and conquers from Central Asia and Persia
The road was built over an historical caravan trail which was once part of the ancient
Silk Road, and was a combined effort between China and Pakistan
Baltistan is mainly inhabited by Baltis, Muslim tribes of Tibetan origin
The Baltis are a very forbearing, cheerful, and hospitable people
The Wakhis survive by herding sheep, goats and yaks or by farming small plots of
wheat or barley
Almost all Wakhis are Ismaili Muslims, a liberal, pacifist branch of Islam led by the Aga
Khan
Wakhis are among the friendliest and most hospitable people of the area
Gilgit-Baltistan has a rich cultural heritage and variety of rare plants and flowers.

In the land of Gilgit-Baltistan, many
cultures and ethnicities exist, three distinct
sectarians groups practice their respective
interpretation of Islam
This whole region shares a beautiful
landscape of terraced fields, high-
mountains, and clean glacier water
Most people practice some form of
agriculture and their beautiful orchards and
wheat and potato fields are fed by these
glacial waters.

The people inhibiting this region have a common
memory of gaining independence from the Dogra
Raj on November the 1st 1949
These diverse people who also proudly claim
distinct cultural heritages, however, find unity in
many important dimensions of their respective
cultures such as the commonality of musical
instruments and their tunes, and unique methods
of dance
These people can also be uniformly identified from
their headgear the Farzin and the long coat
Shoqa, and of course in their food.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS
Navroz, Jashn-e-Baharan, Shandoor Polo
Festival, Babusar Polo Festival and
Harvest time festivals are the major
festivals of the province.
Traditional sport game of Gilgit Baltistan is
polo. Polo was originally started from Gilgit
centuries ago and Britisher learned to play
Polo from Gilgitis during their stay in sub
continent. It is still played in its original
version at Gilgit.

Gilgit

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