Artistic Heritage of Cholistan Comprehensive Article on Cholistan Pakistan

Cholitan is locally known as Rohi. This famous desert is 30km from Bahawalpur. The previous state of Bahawalpur deceit south of the Punjab in Pakistan. Now the governmental division of Bahawalpur, it encompasses the districts of Bahawalpur and neighboringBahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan maintaining accurately the equal boundaries as it did before the partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan in 1947. 

Established in AD 1727. Bahawalpur emerged as one of the most notable Muslim Sates of British India. Located in southern Punjab, I functioned as a princely state for about 229 years before finally ceding to Pakistan in 1956. 

History of Cholistan Complete Article for Researcher 

The region was once watered by the Hakra River, known as the Saravati in vedic times. At one time there were 400 forts in the area and archaeological finds around the Derawar Fort, the only place with a perennial waterhole, indicate that it was contemporaneous with the Indus Valley Civilization. The average annual rainfall is only 12 cm, and the area’s scant cultivation is made possible by underground wells, drawn up by camels. The water is stored in troughs, built by the tribes, between sand hills and din waterholes called tobas. The people are racially similar to those in Rajasthan-tall, with sharp features. 

They live in large, round, mud and grass huts, usually built on the top of sand hills. On the whole, they are pastoral and nomadic. Now, I come to the point the word “camel” is derive via Latin and Greek (camelus and Kamelos respectively) from Hebrew or Phoenician gamal. The Hebrew meaning of the word gamal is derived from the verb root g.m.l. meaning stopping, weaning, going without or repaying in kind. This refers to its ability to go without food or water, as well as the increased ability of service the animal provides when being properly cared for. Camel milk is a staple food of desert traveler tribes and is sometimes considered a food in and of itself; a nomad can live on only camel milk for almost a month. Camel milk is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, and immunoglobulin; compared to cow’s milk it is lower in fat and lactose and higher in potassium, iron and vitamin C. Bedouins believe the curative powers of camel milk are enhanced if the camel’s diet consists of certain desert plants. Camel milk can readily be made into a drinkable yogurt, as well as butter or cheese. 

Though the yields for cheese tend to be low. Camel meat is halal for Muslims, However according to some Islamic schools of thought; a state of impurity is brought on by utilization of it. Consequently, these schools hold that Muslims must perform wudhu (ablution) before the next time they pray after eating camel meat. I am a Cholistani. The beautifu Desert of Cholistan is my Identification I belong here. The word Cholistan is derived from ‘Cholna’ which means moving and the word Cholistan is derived from the TurkieworChol, which means “desert”. Cholistan thus means Land of Desert. The people of Cholistan lead a semi-nomadic life, moving from one place to antoher in search of water and fodder for their animals. The dry bed of the Hakra River runs the local people are known as “Riasti” immigrants from other parts of the Punjab and India are known as abadkar and mohajir. Most local people speak Seraiki, but Punjabi and Urdu are also widely spoken. One of the first civilizations in the world developed in the valley of the Indus River in Asia. It engaged bothe sides of what is now the border between Pakistan and India. 

The Indus Valley civilization lasted from about 2500 BC. The Indus valley people were well versed in the art of carving. More than 2,000 seals have been discovered from the various sites in the Indus valley. The engravings of the various animals rhinoceros, the elephant, etc. reveal the artistic ability and technical skill of the engraver of remarkable and realistic. Civilizations were here such as Arayan, Bhuhaist, Hinduism and Indus Civilizations but this civilization (Arayan, Bhudhaist, Hinduism) now, mixed or marged in Indus Cicilization.

Bahawalpur is a cotton growing region hence a large number cotton based products are being manufactured here. One of the main features of Cholistani Crafts is that bright and attractive colours are being used irrespective of the area in which these are produced. The ‘Khais’ woven cloth, “ Rilly” patch work, “Zari” thread embroidery are some good examples of Cholistani Craft. It may be mentioned that cotton textiles have always been a hallmark of craft of Indus valley civilization. Various kinds of Khaddar-cloth are made for local consumption, and fine khaddar bedclothes and coarse lungies are woven here. A beautiful cloth called Sufi is also woven of silk cotton, or with cotton wrap and silk wool.

Now I come to the craft s of Cholistan and art which coes into being due to necessity, the residents of the outskirts area of Cholistan work day and night to fulfill their needs, but even in these necessities the element of creativity is found their choice of colours and design is not less than a veteran artist. The most of the requisite items are crafts and a variety of crafts are being manufactured by them at home. The known crafts of Bahawalpur region are elaboratelyembroider shoes locally known as “Khussa”. “Cholistani Hand Fans”, “Carpets”, Lady suits (block prints with vegetable dyes)”,“Bed sheets (block prints with begitable dyes)”, “Crinkles (cross stich and bnasi stich)”, “Towels”, table mats ladies and gents kurty, cushions table sheets, ladies suits (Zardozi, tarkashi and thread embroidery). Scarves, cotton men’s wear, handmade shoes, women’s wear (block print sussi), crikleshiffon (with Gita work) pillow covers (with wool thread embroidery having traditional motifs), bed sheets (traditional Ralli pattern in traditional colours and styles), a wid range of choli and ghagra (tic and die). Bahawalpur is also famous for pottery made of clay found in these ares. These wrought by the inherited skill of artisans into paper-thin pottery noted for its elegance, delicacy of design and decoraticr pattern painted there on. Dried date tree leaves, Basket work include stripped date leaves woven by skilled craftsmen to produce article of utility such as basket, hand-bags, ladies bags, mats etc, in elegant design decorated with traditional pattern which make these article coveted owing of their exquisite craftsmanship. 

The handicrafts made of dried date tree leaves are very famous among the tourists and local residents. The golden hands of craftsman use different sticks of plant materials to twist and turn them in such a way to shape it like baskets and seaters which look beautiful as well as have utilization process. The design and bright colours of these crafts reflect the art taking birth and associated with this soil to great extent, displaying the growing plants and trees, wild bushes, flowers, birds, hand fans rung, khais etc. this factor can be observed. These Cholistani bright colours sometimes refer to the scorching sunshine to Cholistan desert sometimes of the cool sand and at other times.

Now I come the festival of Cholistan is a special event of feasting or celebration, usually with a religious focus. There are many festivals here the land of Cholistan, such as Channan, Peer Urs, Camel Jouney, Camel Agony, Camel dance, Ox Running, Jeep Rally, Cultural Night programme (folk music programme) and Firework show.

Now I come to the remarkable knowledge city Uch Sharif, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Uch became a leading center for mysticism in India. “Mystics such as Shah Naseer ad Din Chiragh-e-Dehlive, his teacher Baba FareedGanjShakar” and many othe came to the Khanqah at Uch Sharif for Seclusion and Chilad (meditation). With the continuing rise of mystic in Inida and in Uch in particular, madrassahs, mosques, shrines, tombs, wells, fortication walls, gateways, citadels, and palaces. The three main settlements in Ush at the time were UshBukhari, UchGilani and UchMughalan.