Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Wahki is the native language of Hussaini. It belongs to the Pamiri branch of eastern Iranian languages. They migrated to this part of Hunza from Wakhan, Pamir, and Badakhshan before the end of 18th century. Hunza wakhi does not differ widely from Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Chinese Wakhi. It is a bit more archaic, specially in vocabulary.
SOCIAL CEREMONIES
Social ceremonies are essential part of human societies. These ceremonies are related to human life cycle comprising of birth, Circumcision, Marriage and death. Other social event are also celebrated collectively, details of social ceremonies of Hussaini are given.
BIRTH
Being "patriarchal" and "matrilineal" society the birth of baby boy is marked with gun fire in the air which is actually a nosegay conveyed to all the neighbouring houses, friends and close relative who are looking forward to this occasion although the gun is fired by men, but the women of the neighboring houses, and close relatives pay a visit to the parent's house of the new born, presenting gifts in cash and in kind to the new baron. Sometimes services are also rendered for the new boron's parents help in conduction their agricultural works. Especially women coming from the neighborhood or close relatives of the new boron's parents extend their full cooperation to do the chores.
When the baby girl is born the event is taken up quietly as this is also an occasion of happiness but this happiness has to be concealed. Traditionally parents think no need to make announcement with gunfire, but are no restriction on the gift services.
The maternal grandparents of the newborn also visit then with expensive gifts. The hosts usually slaughter a goat or sheep to serve the visiting guests with food.
MARRIAGE
Marriage is another important event in the life cycle and also in the village social structure and activities. It is celebrated with great pomp and show. The parents in consent select the eligible boy or girl for the daughter or son with close relatives. At the time of engagement gifts are given to the bride. These gifts are in the form of cloths, pair of shoes, socks and a few woollies like sweater and shawl. These gifts are used at special occasions in the duration between engagement and marriage. Many of the gifts are left for the marriage. The Nikah ceremony takes place in the Jamatkhana where consent of both the parties is sought and paper sighed. For Meheer an average of Rs 10000 is decided with the consent of both the families also after the assessment of financial conditions of the bride groom, which is seldom payable at the time of Nikah and marriage.
Usually the people prepare their sons to get married in their early twenties; the girls get married in their teen age, maximum at 17-19.
FUNERAL RITES
When someone dies, the body is given the bath, and body is wrapped in white cloth (kafan). The near relatives, friends recite the Holy Quran for eternal peace of soul of the deceased. Before the burial the dead body is kept for all the mourners to look at face of the deceased. All attending the funeral say the Namaz-janaza and after the burial takes place. Usually no food is cooked in the deceased's house for some days. The relatives, friends and neighbors have the duty to provide cooked food to the bereaved family. On the third food is cooked in large quantity to be served to the villagers. There is a tradition called "Chiragh Roshan" where an oil lamp made of wool offered in to the oil (sesame or apricot oil) is placed in a Chiroughdon. The khalifa recites some verses of Quran and Chiroughnoma of Pir Nasir Khusrow and Ismaili Dayiee of 10th century. On the seventh day food (Molida) is cooked by the bereaved family in large quantity to be served to the villagers. On the fourth day again the villagers are served with food and the Khalifa recite Quran for the forgiveness of the soul of the deceased.
AGRICULTURAL CEREMONIES
KITZIT: SPRING CELEBRATION FESTIVAL
KITZIT is on e of the Wakhi ceremony celebrated in the month of February to welcome the spring season. On the day o f the celebration every household prepares variety of traditional food, gather at one place, where all the people pray for unity and blessings, betterment of all humans, pool all the prepared food and eat together.
KITZIT marks the end of wordlessness, lazy hibernating winter and gives new working life and regularize the people for new season to work with greater zeal in the field and outside homes. The farmers prepare their fields for the cultivation and also spread manure. There is an old custom of sprinkling flour over the wall and pillars of the houses. Kitzit was also a day for the youngsters to play Toksuri (a traditional base ball type game)
TAGUM: SEED SOWING FESTIVAL
Usually this ceremony takes place in the first week of March, which last for two days. On the first day the villagers gather at one place carrying the dish of Khamali or the bread of Semn (local dish made of wheat flour).
The next day again people gather at the same place with their own Semns (this day the Semn is cooked like pudding or like halva). Then a pair of oxen and the Shahgunputhuk (a person representative of a family, member of which are traditionally symbol of agriculture) is brought. The Khalifa prays for better crops, unity, and success. After prayer the Shahgunputhuk sows the seeds in the field, and then all the villagers start sowing the seeds (symbolically) in their own fields. Taugm marks the day of sowing after this rite , cultivation starts in the village followed by Jugun (a traditional polo played without horses), which is played by the villagers.
CHINAR: HARVESTING FESTIVAL
It is celebrated in the month of July, usually on 10th or 12th, when barley crops is ready to be harvested, the cutting of barley is a men's affair so they go out in the fields carrying Khamali, the bread, ghee, the migraine and Spandur, tiny herb grain the smoke of which is used as air freshener. They all gather by the field. A small rite takes place before the start of the crop cutting which is that the oldest man puts Spander on fire so smoke comes out and he cuts some barley and gives it to the men who bring them to their homes where the house wife cooks a delicious dish and put the barley grain in it. When the food is cooked then every man brings the food to a decided place of summoning, where they all take the food, and pray to God for good yield, after this the harvesting takes place.
RELIGIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE
People of Hussaini village belong to the Shia Imami Ismailia tradition of Islam. There is one Jamatkhana with one religious center. The Jamatkhana has a leader called "Mukhi" and "Kamaria" to assist him. Village has a khalifa, who is responsible to religious part of birth, death, and marriage ceremonies. Within the Jamatkhana there are different committees to manage the system. These committees comprise of volunteers from the village. There are Boys Scouts, Girls Guides, Shoes Company, Water Company, Light Company etc. All the committees are performing their duties under the supervision of Mukhi. Mukhi works under supervision of Local Council, Regional Council, national council and International Council. The office f the International Council is in Geneva and the National Council in Karachi.
RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES
EID-UL-FITER
On the day of Eid, all the villagers gather in Jamatkhana's ground and say their prayer. This is a very happy occasion for all of them. They show their happiness by embracing with and giving to congratulation to one another. Special foods and dishes are prepared. They visit one another's house. There are different recreational activities for children and they enjoy best of their time.
EID-UL-AZHA
There are also special preparations to celebrate this Eid. People are slaughtering animals. They wear new send meat/mutton to their neighbors and relatives. Sacrificing of animals is performed after saying prayer.
POLITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The Lumbardar is the head of the village in this area. He enjoys a great political power. There is a member of Union Council. A member of Community Arbitration Board in the village is responsible for conflict resolution. This Board is comprises of a president, secretary and members. Whenever a conflict arises, the sufferer tenders an application to the secretary/president of the board.
President and secretary issue a circular calling all members of the board in the office (Gulmit) on fixed date. This meeting in addition to Board members may have some elders of the village for conflict resolution. If any of the disputant ignores the decision of the board, he may tender he application in the Tehsil or Police Station. Normally Tehsil/Police Station first instructs both disputant parties to once again consult Arbitration Board. If the case is an outsider or with governmental organization, the Numberdar/Members Union Council/Member Arbitration Board are dealing with the case jointly.
