Local traditions and culture in Karachi

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A rich legacy shared with India, Karachi has several Hindu temples around the city. The profile of these temples is kept low mainly due to the hostility amongst the two rivals. Several of these temples are now in a depleted state, requiring urgent need for someone to restore/conserve.

One of the most visible is situated under the Netty Jetty bridge, which fortunately has been saved by various civic actions by people who want to preserve our rich heritage. This is also a temple used mainly for cremations by Hindu citizens who can not afford to take the remains to River Ganga in India.

The province of Sindh (where Karachi is also located) has the most population of Hindus, mainly in the interior and Tharparkar region, close to Indian border.

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Native jetty, also called Netty Jetty, is a bridge near Kemari, which has been for ages a site where people from various backgrounds come and feed the fishes and birds, and also to commit suicide.

This tradition to feed God's creatures is quite old. I asked various people as to what it entails and never got a good answer. The summary is that people come here to feed the creatures if they want something in return (from God); or to wash away their sins.

It is a carnival scene on the bridge, especially on holidays as there will be thousands of people lining the rail and feeding the fishes and the birds. You can bring your own stuff to feed, or buy from vendors sitting there. Or overlook, on one side the dwindling mangroves, and on the other side the busy harbour.

The town municipal administration of Saddar Town has handed over a mobile toilet to concerned authorities for facilitating beachgoers. The natural beauty of beaches was being affected due to lack of cleanliness and increasing pollution. In this regard, Karachi government has said the citizens will have to play due role, so that beachgoers can be provided a healthy and hygienic atmosphere.

The provision of a model mobile toilet for the beach area was a welcome step, that such mobile toilets would also be provided to Keamari and Bin Qasim towns.

The chief secretary congratulated the nazim Saddar Town and his team for their creative initiative regarding the mobile toilet.

The mobile toilet has separate chambers for males/females.

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While in Karachi, if you get the urge, you need to sharpen your knife, the old fashion way.

With advent of self sharpening knives, and accessories, this ancient and traditional trait is dying fast. Hardly ever in the main city, one may see a man carrying behind him a wooden frame with implements to sharpen your house ware knives. The knife sharpener will charge Rs. 5 per knife.

KARACHI (AFP) - Crocodiles with huge teeth-filled mouths lie in the sand and slap their snouts on the edge of sulfur springs, greeting worshippers who journey to the Mango Pir shrine on the outskirts of Pakistan's volatile port city Karachi.
It is one of thousands of Sufi shrines in this Islamic republic, where millions of devotees set out on pilgrimages, from all corners of the country, to pray, chant, dance, sing, occasionally smoke hashish, and seek healing.

Sufism is the most artistic, liberal strand of Islam, embracing song and dance as expressions of love for God.

The 700-year old Mango Pir shrine, 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of the city centre, is believed to be the resting place of a Hindu bandit who tried to rob the caravan of Baba Farid Shakar Ganj, a 13th century Sufi saint.

According to local legend, Mango Pir converted from Hinduism to Islam when he realised his sin, and in reward Ganj gave him lice which grew into crocodiles.
The compound surrounding his shrine swarms with some 150 crocodiles. Devotees regard the deadly reptiles as sacred, and potential fulfillers of their most fervent wishes.

Pilgrims journeying to Mango Pir make offerings not to the buried there, but to the scaly creatures.

Wildlife experts are unsure how the crocodiles came to be there. Some believe they may be traced back to a time when the area was a swamp.

"The area may have been a wetland some time in history and that could be the only explanation of their presence at such an isolated place," said World Conservation Union (IUCN) researcher Tahir Qureshi.
"Earlier, their natural habitat was available to them. But now they are confined to ponds and their subsistence largely relies on artificial food."

Pilgrims, including many from neighbouring India just 400 kilometers (250 miles) away, give beef, mutton or chicken to the crocodiles as offerings in the hope they will make their wishes come true.

Paan is very popular among local people. It is beetle leaves and tobacco. Paan is made up of green beetle leaves, paste of lime and a funny brown liquid and either tobacco or sweet essences as it depend on choice. People chew it and all the ingredients of paan make mouth red. I am not sure about the taste. You could see these Paan shops every corner of the street. There are other kind of Paans are also available which tastes sweet. Fancy a Paan?

These Sindhi Goats will grow into giants and are considered prime sacrificial animal.

In Sindh, herders raise these goats and invest on them heavily for 1-1/2 years. These are then brought to Karachi and are also exported to the Middle East for slaughtering during the Holy festival of Eid al Adha.

In the UAE, these goats are preferred for slaughtering over any other species. The numbers that you carry on your 4 wheelers or hired trucks determine your social status. We have seen families carrying up to 10 of these Sindhi Goats for sacrificing during the Eid.

The food in Pakistan is amazing! So good and tasty! Shrimp, fish, lamb, chicken, lentils, beef..and of course, rice and breads of all sorts! (and so much more..but these are my favorites!
:D

It is by far my favorite food!

People usually eat with their hand or use their naan (bread) to pick the food up.

Don't eat with your left hand thought... (keep it off the table really..)

Meals are served kinda like the spanish tapas in a way that they come all in small little plates, with a big one for rice and bread. You then pick a bit here and there and fill your plate with all you like!
:D

Some of the things are VERY spicy, while others are kinda sweet..so ask the person serving you just to make sure :)

Enjoy!!