KARACHI - Sindhi Culture Day was celebrated with zeal and zest all over the province on Sunday.
Like other parts of the province, colourful events were organised by different organisations in the city as people wearing Sindhi Ajrak and Topi thronged to celebrate the annual festival.
The central gathering was held outside the Karachi Press Club, where different Sindhi media outlets setup stalls and reception camps to welcome participants who arrived in caravans, dancing on Sindhi folk songs to rejoice the five thousand years old civilization of Moen-Jo-Daro.
Against tradition of last four years’, the Sindhi media announced to celebrate the fifth Sindhi Culture Day on December 8.
The cultural event continued till late night at Karachi Press Club, where caravans of political parties, civil society organisations and people with families reached on their own and expressed their jubilation by dancing on Sindhi songs of “Jeay Sindh Jeay Sindh Wara Jean” and other songs.
The nationalist and federal political parties like Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mohaz (JSQM), Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F), Awami Jamhori Party (AJP) Sindhi United Party (SUP), Sindh National Party (SNP) and other groups took out rallies, waving their party flags and exhibited the Sindhi Topi as symbol of culture. Children and women were seen dressed up in Ajrak, assembling at grand gatherings, where famous Sindhi singers’ audio songs were played.
The other mega event held at Malir area.
Meanwhile, ruling PPP organised a colourful gathering at Peoples Secretariat, where PPP lawmakers, PPP Karachi chief Abdul Qadri Patel, PPP women wing leaders and workers participated in large number. The ‘Jiyalas’ and women workers of the party while wearing Sindhi Ajrak and Topi congratulated each other and distributed sweets.
On the other side, the Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Patron-in-Chief, Pakistan Peoples Party has congratulated the people of Sindh on the festivities being observed across the province.
Patron in Chief PPP emphasised on this day that it is about time we save Sindh’s Heritage and urged the Government to take measures to protect Sindh’s heritage sites.
He has also issued his video message in Sindhi language on the Sindhi Culture Day, expressing his jubilation on this culture day and prayed for the progress and development of the province from Karoonjhar to Kashmore.
Meanwhile, the Sindhi cultural and unity day was observed throughout Larkana and Kambar-Shahdakdot districts on Sunday.
Almost all nationalist political parties, PPP, PML(Q), social and other organisations took out  rallies on the day.
Wearing Sindhi cap and Ajrak the processionists danced on Sindhi tunes and folk songs and gathered at Jinnah Bagh Chowk. The place gave a festive look as small and big processions were seen on the roads.
People exchanged Sindhi caps and Ajraks with each other. Students of various colleges and schools took out large rallies. Unprecedented sale of Sindhi cap was witnessed in Larkana and Kambar-Shahdadkot after December 8 was declared as Sindhi cap day.
The people said there was no threat to the Sindhi culture and it is rich in tradition and is a soil of the peace-lovers and a land of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar and Sachal Sarmast.
Women also equally participated in the celebrations by wearing traditional dresses and said the Culture Day is a good step to promote handicrafts like Ajrak and Sussi.
They prayed for the prosperity and development of Sindh and the country. On the occasion speakers highlighted the importance of the day. They stressed the need for brotherhood among all people in the country.
Many rallies, participated by a large number of people, were also taken out in the city to mark the day.
Several social, political groups and civil society members celebrated cultural Sindhi Topi and Ajrak Day, organised different activities like rallies, seminars, gatherings, dance events with folk songs and traditional songs.