Baloch Cultural Ceremonies

Child Birth

            The occasion of the birth of either a male or a female child is marked with joy. Food and sweets are prepared and distributed. The birth of a boy is greeted with greater rejoicing than the birth of a girl. Among some tribes no ceremonies are performed on the birth of a girl, while among other tribes usual ceremonies are performed from birth till death. They include birth, sasigan (selecting name on sixth day), burruk (circumcision), padgami (child's beginning to walk) and salwar (wearing of trousers) etc.

Marriage

           Marriages which generally take place after puberty are performed with ceremonies which included music, dancing and distribution of food. The girl is usually a few years junior to the boy. Marriage is arranged to a closely knit family. Expenses of food prepared on either side are borne by the bridegroom. To meet the expenses and amount of labb, bride price, relatives of the bridegroom collect bijjari, subscriptions from friends and relative. Traditionally, everyone gives according to his means. Sheep's, cows, goats or camels are also presented as bijjar. Relatives of the bride also collect bijjar called giwari on the marriage evening.

          The general characteristics of a wedding include negotiations by parents and other relatives. All details are agreed upon and the wedding is formalized later on. Labb is fixed before hand. Sang or harbarsindi, betrothal, is the first step. The expenses, pardach, are incurred by the bridegroom. Pardach is paid in cash and kind before by the marriage date. It also includes embroidered clothes and other essential articles for the bride.

            Sang is almost as absolute as the marriage itself. After engagement, the parents of the girl are bound to give the hand of the lady to the person to whom she is betrothed. There is no backing-out from either side save in exceptional circumstances. Only in rare cases, the man can forego his fiancée, dishtar.

             Sahbadal or system of exchange of girls between families without stipulations paid is also prevalent. Sometimes conditions are made that a daughter born of a marriage will be given to relatives of bride's parents. However, if there is a marked difference in the ages or personal attractions of will-be-bride and bridegroom, it will then be compensated in money by either side. Betrothal in childhood among close relatives is also common.

The date of marriage is usually announced well in advance and all the relatives and friends will be duly informed. In former times, the invitation for participation was sent to the entire clan which then selected the individuals for taking part in the ceremonies on their behalf. However, at a much latter stage, the invitations are sent to individuals and family heads. The persons sent for inviting the people, Lotuki, The party will then be feasted by the village headman before their return.

             A few days before the event, a kapar or a large wooden tent is built, a few yards from the home of the bridegroom. In coastal areas this temporary tent is called mangeer where more than on marriage ceremonies are performed. This is built for the occasion by the people under supervision of the village headman. All ceremonies including dancing and singing are performed there. This will also serve as a guest house for visitors from the nearby villages. Among peculiar customs, korag, is most prominent. Bridegroom is bought to mangeer amid with much singing and dancing.

           Another peculiar custom is that a week before the marriage, the girl is secluded from the rest of the family. Only the closest female relatives and friends could visit her. During this period she is also briefed regarding her duties and responsibilities after marriage.



Add caption



Baloch Cultural Punishments On Crimes

                    In Baloch society an offence against the individual such as theft or robbery is a corporate against the entire tribe. Any contravention is punished according to the nature of the crime committed. But if the offence is committed outside the tribe, it is considered an offence against that tribe. The individual acts consequently will become the responsibility of the tribes concerned. The opposing tribesmen could revenge the guilt in an appropriate manner, not necessarily against that particular individual but against any person belonging to the tribe of the offender.

                      Sentence for misdemeanor is the payment of appropriate fine or compensating the loss of property in case of theft or robbery. Sometimes robbery is also punished with death. Punishment of corporate crime is outlawry of person that is, disowning the individual and declaring him isolated from the tribe. This is one of the major punishments and rarely awarded. In that case he is also banished from the area.

                     There is least evidence of awarding punishment of dore kassag, tearing to pieces by horses; pahao, hanging, which is awarded to traitors and the enemy agents. These forms of punishment nevertheless are clearly a later addition and not the original Baloch practices. Beheading is the common mode of inflicting the sentence. There is, however, no evidence of any permanent hangman or jallad among the Baloch for the purposes of executing criminals. In Kalat State, there is no permanent post of a hangman. Death sentence, however, is always awarded in public.

               

                      There is no evidence of punishment of death by drowning, throwing from rock, burning or burying alive, pouring molten lead on the criminal, starvation in the dungeons, tearing to death by red hot pincers, cutting asunder and stoning to death, or the Persian and Mughal practices of blinding and maiming.

                     

                      In case of murder the relatives of the deceased had the inalienable right to claim blood for blood; and this claim had the tribal code of conduct, the deceased family and the entire tribal strength behind it. The murderer could be forgiven only by the nearest kin. Among a few tribes blood compensation is given by the offender or his family. Relatives of the offender had to accept the punishment and are obliged to agree to the award if no settlement is reached. Extreme torture or dishonoring is against the tribal norms. Torture to low-castes involving serious crimes is sometimes perpetrated. The Baloch think it more honorable to be beheaded than hanged. Other modes of capital punishment are insulating.

                    The only crime which could invoke death penalty or banishment besides treason is adultery. Sometimes mere suspicion of unfaithfulness by wife is sufficient to put her to death. The man will also get the same punishment. But among some tribes, who are alleged to be inferior in caste, the adulterous women are divorced and the adulterer is obliged to marry her. In case of adultery there was no need for the aggrieved husband to resort to any tribal council to get a decision. He himself inflicted the sentence. The unmarried women or widows get punishment from their near relatives.

                     A very peculiar cultural trait is that even the criminal or offender, if apprehended, will never tell a lie even in the face of instant punishment. This is against his sense of honour and pride. He is always truthful. This made torture to extract information or confession of guilt quite unnecessary.

                    Among the ancient Baloch, like other Aryan groups, trial by ordeal is perhaps in vogue. The culprit had to prove his innocence by walking through the fire or putting his hands on a hot rod. In Balochi folk stories there are numerous instances when the innocence of the offender had to be proved by putting his hands on the hot stones, tapag. This practice was perhaps discarded early in the Christian era.

                    In most cultures any child of less than then years was usually considered incapable or guilt on the ground that he or she was too young to differentiate between right and wrong. The practice was completely reversed among the Baloch. The Baloch child had a penetrating sense regarding his enemies and friends. Old blood accounts are settled by persons of less than ten years. Baloch children take part in battles. Therefore, the case of guilt or criminal responsibility for the minor is always judged according to circumstances and merit of the case. The members of the family of the minor will have to bear the responsibility of his guilt if the crime is provoked by them.

                  The home of any Baloch elder is a safe refuge and place of protection for all the offenders of law till the decision of the dispute through the Jirga or med.

Baloch Cultural Names

           Traditionally the name of a child is chosen a few days after birth, mostly on the sixth, ceremony is celebrated with rifle shots, balochi cultural dance etc, ceremony held is called "Shashag". The child is given a name of some worthy forefather who is not alive. But at the first instance, he is given an alternate name. As the Baloch had great respect for their departed elders, they gave names to the children formally, but in the meantime alternate names are chosen because the children by those would be receiving rebukes, which are considered an insult even to those names and always avoided.

                The Baloch borrow names from trees, plants, colors and nature. Names are also derived from the name of week days.Mostly Baloch add their cast in their names and they also like to add their identity which is "Baloch" in their names. Father's name is also sometimes added to the actual name, as Chakar-e-Saihakk (Chakar son of Saihakk) or Haibitan Murad (Haibitan son of Murad). This practice most probably has crept into Baloch culture through Arabic influences at a much larger scale.

Baloch Cultural Dress

                  The Baloch men were a jamag, along shirt, down to heels and loose trousers; a turban, pag and shoes made of leather or sawas, made of palmyra, piss. The jamag has side pockets. Like their Aryan ancestors, they always were white. In recent times over-coat or waist-coat, kaba, which was usually embroidered in different colours was used by noblemen. Sal or chadir which is a mark of distinction is used by elderly persons who warp it round the waist and knees, called kabarsani, to sit in a particular position in Balochi diwan. Socks are also used.

                Baloch women also ware loose shirts or gowns and trousers. The gown is ornamented with a profusion of needle-work of various matching colors. The shirt has a large front pocket, pandol, near the knees which is also embroided. She had a chadir or gusan on the head which also covered the neck and breasts. Women ware shoes and socks. They use various colours, the favorite being red. 

               Men has long hair while the women's long hair is parted in the centre of the forehead. This separation is called giwar. The hair is beautifully managed in two and left down back. Women in some areas use amad, a black tooth paint. The head is usually bound with a fillet or black stuff or silken cloth. Tituk or tattooings are made on women's forehead and cheeks, especially of newly married girls.

                The Baloch use of jewelry has close affinity with the Aryan's traced from the archaeological findings. The bridegroom besides his usual ornaments, such as a sword, had some hidden object on his person during, at least, the first night of the marriage.

                The women ware durr (earrings), pulu and pulluk (rings in nose), har or touk (necklace and bracelets), mundrik (rings in hands and foot fingers), sanga or tal (rings around hands), bahuband or bahink (armlets). Ornaments of various kinds are fixed on the hair including choti-pull, moudi, which are fixed on the hair near the back, and Choteel which is added to make the hair appear long.

 

Baloch Hal And Mestagi

HAL

Hal is giving and receiving news when one wants to meet another. It is an obligation, and always reciprocal. A person must communicate the latest happenings which may include the prices of essential goods in a nearby market or some political events o a more serious nature. This helped in conveying the latest happening in remote areas. When travelling in groups, the hal is given by the elderly person of noble birth. This is called chehabar. To reveal or receive hal is a mark of distinction.

MESTAGI

Mestagi is the reward for giving good news as birth of a son, news of the arrival of a lost relative or report of a victory in the battle. It is appropriate and according to the good news conveyed reward is given.

Balochi Diwan

          The Baloch has an open society with its unique characteristic of equality and freedom. Every Baloch is expected to be active member of the tribe. He took part in discussion in diwan which is open to everyone, at the house of the Sardar or the elder. Sometimes there are separate places, diwanjah, for such getherings. Social, political and economic problems concerning the tribe are debated in these assemblies. Diwan literally means gathering or assembly.

          Diwan in it formal nature is to be participate in by the elders and elected personalities. In all informal get-togethers everybody feel his presence. This spirt has made the Baloch into a close knit tribal structure based on mutual benefit and loss.

           The house of the leader, or diwanjah is the place where history, legends, ballads, drama, lyrics and tales of love are told and sung. Every one wishes that he could exert himself and attract others by his knowledge and manners during such discussions.

Baloch Music And Dance

         The Baloch has a rich musical culture. His interest in music is profound. Like other civilizations, music among among Baloch is also common. Music had its importance on all occasions except sad days like death etc. When the ceremonies are of a more solemn nature. Other happiness occasions are marked with much singing and dancing.

       The Baloch sur or raags which can be termed Zaheerag because of their general characterization of melancholy pattern can be categorized under two main heads: Balochi and Kurdi. All others which may be as many as twenty come under these heads. Under Balochi, come its various branches: miedi gor-obam, mianag, asrap-e-durra and janozam. Kurdi included baskard jalawani kurdi, sahr kurdi, salat and tat. It may, however, be noted that the entire Balochi musical structure is based on Zaheerag. Some of the folk-music appears to be somewhat different from it, but in their formal structure all musical derivatives have their base in Zaheerag.Among the musical instruments nal-sur, tamborag and surous are important.

         
        As regads dance, there are few traces if any, of weather, harvest or thanks-giving dances among the Baloch. Dances are always collective and associate with groups. There is no fiery manner of dances.

The main dance is do-chapi when men gather and dance, clapping hands with the movement of foot, nech and head on rythmical music on drum, dohl. Any knid of dance apart from do-chapi . Basically it is for the enjoyment of performers and is a spectator dance. On many occasions women move in a circle, clapping hands but without any body movements such as do-chapi.

       Lewa, hambo and latti are also prevalent mostly through foreign influence. Lewa is supposed to be of Arabian origin, while Latti and Hambo are clearly dances of the ancient indigenous people of Balochistan.

Add caption