Culture
Culture Of Rustam [Sudhum Valley] :
Rustam town is mainly inhabited by the Yusafzai Pathans.The origin of the Pathans is traced back to two brothers Khakai and Gori who gave their names to the two divisions of the tribes settled near Qandhar. The Khakal were subsequently expelled by the Ghoris and they settled near Kabul about the middle of the 13th century. When they increased in number and acquired wealth they split into three clans, the Yusafzais, Gigyanis and Turklays. At the close of the 15th century, the Yusafzais and the Gigyanis moved to the plains of Peshawar and eventually ousted the Dalazaks and spread into Buner district. They eventually moved into Mardan district and the area came to be known as “Yousafzai Plain”.
Besides Yousafzai tribe, some Sayyeds Mians Sahibzadas and Gujars are also found in Rustam. The Gujars are more in number and some historian told that they are the original inhabitants of the area.
The Sayyeds, Mians and Sahibzadas enjoy special respect amongst the Pathans on account of their ancestry.
The Yousafzai Pathans are lively, brave and hospitable people
There are many forms of greetings and salutations. It is very usual for the Pathans to embrace each other when they meet. This is followed by a chain of inquiries like jor ye (Are you all right), Khushal Ye (are you happy) besides, some other similar expressions of good will.
Food:
 |
"Pikawri" is also very delicious and good at snack time which goes well with "Choley".
Qahwa (green tea) is popular and is liked by most of the people.
Milk tea is common and tea without milk is always considered as the sign of poverty. Milk tea goes well with "Paratey" usually taken at breakfast. It also goes well with "Pikawri". The people of Rustam take tea at three times, morning, afternoon and after dinner. "Matyayi, 'Ghunzakhi, Halwa, 'Kakori, 'Masaldara Gora, 'Ladoo, and 'Gulabjaman" are amongst the people of Rustam's favorite sweets.
Language:
The main language spoken in Rustam is Pukhto. Some non-Pakhtoons speak in their native tongue while others speak Pukhto in their daily lives. Example is that “Ajars” and “Gujars” also speak Ajari and Gujari languages respectively. 98.44 percent people of the population speaks Pukhto, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindi, Balochi, Saraiki the other languages spoken as mother tongue are 0.33, 0.49, 0.02, 0.01, 0.03 percent of the population respectively.
RELIGION:
The population of the district is almost Muslim who constitute 99.51 of the total population. The main minorities are Ahmadi and Christian who are 0.32 and 0.14 percent respectively. Other minority is Hindu who are 0.02 percent of the total population. The population of rural and urban area are mostly Muslim which is 99.69 and 98.81 percent respectively.
Marriage and Deaths:
There are different customs and traditions, which are followed on occasions, such as marriages, births and deaths. The main features of such occasions are described below: -
Marriage Customs
Frequently the parties have some previous acquaintance before the marriage. The parents of the boy and girl make the choice. Some times after the girl’s father agrees to the match, the relatives of the boy take presents to the girl’s house and the engagement is announced. On that occasion shots are fired and friends of both the parties congratulate each other. After engagement the boy seldom sees the girl till they are married. The ornaments, cloths for the bride and other articles required for the marriage ceremony are provided by the parents of the boy.
Births
The birth of a boy is an occasion of great rejoicing. The parents of the baby receive felicitations from friends and relatives. The birth of a girl is not welcomed and generally goes unnoticed.
Deaths
On the death of a person, the women of the neighborhood also join the women of the deceased family in lamentation. After the funeral rites are completed, alms are distributed to the poor at the graveyard. At the house of deceased, the mourners are provided with food by relatives or friends of the deceased’s family, as no food is then cooked at home. People continue to come for condolence to the Hujra or mosque of the area for three consecutive days.
Festivals and Fairs
Festivals and fairs are a part of the Pathan life. The most important festivals are the two Eids. Apart from that, there are weekly cattle fairs in Rustm hwar on Monday, at which cattle and other necessities of life are bought and sold.
Occupation:
Most of the people are farmer in profession in village. They are engaged in agriculture either directly or indirectly and live on what they get from their fields and farms. A large number of people are engaged in their own business in Rustam bazar.
Some educated peoples are employed of the government.
Another segment of the younger generation is employed abroad in countries,
like Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arab, Qatar, Bronei, Kuwait, Bahrain, USA, Uk, Japan, Hong Kong etc.
Dwellings:
The villages are divided into Kandis have congested house. Each kandi is further occupied by sub-section. The divisions of Kandis are on the pattern of agricultural lands. Their houses are generally consists of two or three rooms and a court-yard turned as ghollai and barandah. The cattles and poultry are also accommodated beside the shelter for family.
Each Kandi of the village has its own mosque and its own Maulvi and a place of meeting or for public assembly called Hujra. In most cases it is the property of elders of the Kandi; who are expected to feed and give shelter to visitors/ travelers. These Hujras are commonly used for the settlement of public disputes/business beside public meetings. Residents of Kandi assemble there to smoke, hear news of the day and discuss their problems and politics. Now a day the people in service abroad have accumulated sufficient wealth which brought a distinct change in the life of the villagers who construct pacca houses of cement, bricks and timber.
A Tandoor (Oven) is also found for baking bread in many houses and some time women of three or four houses assembled on one Tandoor (Oven) for baking breads on their turn. The houses have huge compound walls around with gates. Chair and tables are used in the houses of well-to-do persons whereas others use the ordinary cot (Charpoy).
Life Style:
Family system is the back bone of the society. Each member of the family supports the other. If one is taking care of the family, the other is abroad to earn money for a better life. Father or Grandfather is the "King" who controls the whole family and Mother or Grandmother is the "Queen" of the family. Similar to other Pakhtoons, A house is also like a small kingdom. Every one knows has a place and a duty to perform. At the end of the day, they sit down around one "Dastarkhuan" or table to have dinner together and drink tea. They end the day with topics such as discussing problems that they may have encountered, taking new steps for new plans and attending other occasions. The younger folks sit together and tell each other stories and jokes through the night in what is referred to as Hujra or Dera, Baitak, which is a guest room specifically reserved for men outside the house.
Dress and Ornaments:
There is significant difference in dress of common people and educated and upper classes. The upper class people are inclined to western dress. The middle and lower classes are generally wearing typical pathan dress, the old lose coat or khalqa has been replaced by the less cumbersome qamiz with blanket and coarse chader during winter season around the body. Among the villagers use of mazari cloth is common for qamiz and shalwar. A chitrali woolen cap is used in winter while a typical light color cap in summer. Chapplies are the most common foot wear. Shalwar qamiz and dopatta "Kamees-Partoog-Loopata" is the dress of female. Pardah is universal among women in a form of a printed coarse chadder or plain white chadder or burqa.
The use of ornaments among female is also common in the district. The women adorn themselves with ear rings and bangles with rare use of band quba, which consists of two egg like cups connected by chain or a flat circle shaped gold hanging on forehead.