Tradition And Customs

Tradition And Customs

‘Hujra’ plays a central point in pukhtoon culture. ‘Hujra’ is a status symbol and named after the ‘khel / tapa / cham’. Every ‘khel’ has its own ‘hujra’ a combined property. All individuals in ‘khel / sub khel’ irrespective of their land holdings / financial standing are an equal member. Only segmentary pukhtoons can have ‘hujra’.

Hujra is a place where all social and cultural activities are performed; entertainment of guests, get together on occasions of sorrow / grief, ceremonies, spending of leisure time alone or in company of friends; in short every sort of gatherings.

Hujra is a sort of club whose membership is confined to individual families of the ‘khel’ and is hereditary.

Hujra is a stark reminder, to a non segmentary Pukhtoon every moment of his life of his inferior status in society. He is there in ‘hujra’ to serve the ‘chilm’ and water and remain in attendance of landed class. He can’t sit side by side in ‘charpai’ with segmentary pukhtoon and is on his toe to take orders.

Till recent past, a non segmentary Pukhtoon was supposed to take prior permission from the head of the clan with whom he was attached, for marriage of his son /daughter or any other ceremony like engagement or circumcision.

No sittings after ‘isha’ prayers in ‘hujra’ as it used to be up to sixties. Now after a day’s work people like to spend the evening time in front of TV in company of their children rather than sitting in ‘hujra’ and discussing happenings of the day smoking tobacco and taking puff of ‘chilam’ (hubble bubble). Now the ‘Hujras’ give a deserted look. Affluent have constructed their own guest houses and sit there to entertain guests on ceremonies and receive visitors who come to offer ‘fateha’ on the occasion if a death occurs in the family.

Musical troupe used to be called from ‘Mardan Kalpani’ on ceremonial occasions by those who could manage and afford it in a ‘hujra’. This is a thing of the past. Dancing girls ‘kanjrai’ were an attractive item in this musical group. Sobat Khan has entertained the Marghuz people in all ‘hujras’ of Marghuz on the eve of his son’s marriage. This festivity in no more seen for a number of reasons, inclination of people towards religion, cost prohibitive, leisure time is not available with the people and above all other entertainment means are accessible. The musical function was open and free to all.

After the harvesting season of Wheat and Corn was over there used to be another sport called ‘ma-kha’. Actually this sport had its root in practice of the use of bow and arrow to prepare the youth for war. The mark men would shoot his arrow at a target fixed in mud. The game was played with some rules. There was competition between two teams. The team with higher no of points would win. This was a healthy sport and everybody young and old enjoyed. This sport is no more played and will be soon forgotten.

Dog fight (Bull Terrier, Bull Dog) in ‘Bata-rail’ ground in between Marghuz and Doodher village, Rabbit/Hare Hunting with special breed of dogs / hounds (thin,long and fast running) in deserted areas,  Cock Fight and Quail Fight in a ‘hujra’  were pastimes games after harvesting season.