PAKISTAN MYTHOLOGY

The region forming modern Pakistan was home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and then,
successively, recipient of ancient Vedic, Persian, Indo-Greek and Islamic cultures. The area has
witnessed invasions and/or settlement by the Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Arabs,
Turks, Afghans, Mongols and the [Link] folklore contains elements of all of these cultures.
The themes, characters, heroes and villains of regional folklore are often a reflection of local religious
traditions, and folklore serves as both entertainment and a vehicle for transmission of moral and
religious concepts and values. Some folklore performances are integral to religious rites and festivals.
Pakistani folklore encompasses the folk songs, folktales, myths, legends, customs, proverbs and
traditions of the four provinces and numerous tribal areas that make up the modern nation of Pakistan.
Throughout most of the area’s history, only scholars and administrators were literate; poetry and
literature were transmitted orally and folklore and folk tales offered education in religious precepts and
moral values, preserved political understanding and history, and provided entertainment. Every village
had hundreds of tales and traditions, faithfully repeated by parents to their children and by storytellers
at festivals and public occasions. Some folklore was an essential aspect of religious practice, explaining
cosmology and the significance of local shrines and deities
 Pakistan Mythology

Contents
•1 Origins
•2 Types
•2.1 Sindhi folklore
• 2.1.1 Tales
• 2.1.2 Dance
•2.2 Baloch folklore
• 2.2.1Tales
• 2.2.2Dance
•2.3 Chitrali folklore
• 2.3.1Tales
• .3.2Dance
•2.4 Kashmiri folklore
• 2.4.1Tales
• 2.4.2Dance
•2.5 Pashtun folklore
• 2.5.1Tales
• 2.5.2Dance
•2.6 Punjabi folklore
• 2.6.1Tales
•2.7 Saraiki folklore
Origion of Pakistan Mythology: Pakistani folklore encompasses the mythology, poetry, songs, dances
and puppetry from Pakistan's various ethnic groups.

Both Indo-Aryan mythology and Iranic mythology evolved from the earlier Indo-Iranic mythology, have
played an instrumental role in the development of various Pakistani folklore. Despite linguistic and
religious differences at one time, the folklore from across the country seem to revolve around the themes
of love, war, historical events or the supernatural. Generally, folklore from the southern regions tend to be
based upon historical events, such as a peasant uprising or a tragic love story. In contrast, folklore from the
northern regions appear be based on the supernatural, such as on Deos (giants) and Pichal peri (fairies).

Pichal Peri Urdu: ‫پـــرـی‬
‫چھل ي‬
‌ ‫" پـــ‬reverse-footed") or churel/churail  Urdu: ‫ ) چڑیـل‬is a monster or supernatural
 creature that is a popular topic for ghost stories in Central and South Asia. Pichal Peri is usually female,
with dark long hair covering her face. The Pichal Peri is said to roam the mountains of India and Pakistan

Pichal Peri appears in the woods at night and targets a man who is by himself. Most stories about her
involve the victim escaping, as these are usually told by people who claim to be first hand witnesses. It is
believed that the Pichal Peri has two forms. In most stories, the Pichal Peri appears as a beautiful woman
and targets vulnerable men. Her feet point backwards. I
 Churail Monster Sila Monster

Basically its self created stories through which we usually use to scare our little children specially
under age between (3-8) so that they don’t do any naughtiness or don’t go outside without permission
at night time & being disciplined.
Types :

Sindhi folklore
‫ ) لــوڪ ادـب‬are folk traditions which have developed in Sindh over a number
Sindhi folklore (Sindhi: 
of centuries. Sindh abounds with folklore, in all forms, and colors from such obvious
manifestations as the traditional Watayo Faqir tales, the legend of Moriro, epic tale of Dodo
Chanesar to the heroic character of Marui which distinguishes it among the contemporary
folklores of the region. The love story of Sassui, who pines for her lover Punhu, is known and
sung in every Sindhi settlement. examples of the folklore of Sindh include the stories of Umar
Marui and Suhuni Mehar. Sindhi folk singers and women play a vital role to transmit the Sindhi
folklore.
Tales:

The most famous Sindhi folk tales are known as the Seven Heroines (‫ ) سـت سـورـمـيون‬of Shah Abdul Latif
Bhittai
• Umar Marui
• Sassui Punhun
• Lilan Chanesar
• Noori Jam Tamachi
• Sorath Rai Diyach
• Momal Rano

Momal Rano or Mumal Rano (Sindhi: ‫ ) ومـمـلرـاڻو‬is a romantic tale of Momal and Rano from the Sindhi
folklore and Rajasthani folklore. It is a multifaceted story that entails adventure, magic, schemes,
beauty, love, ordeals of separation and above all romantic tragedy.
Baloch folklore
‫لــک‬
Baloch folklore (Balochi:  ‫لوچ وـ‬
‫ ) بــــ‬are folk  traditions which have developed in Balochistan over a number of
centuries. Almost all folk traditions are in the Balochi language or Brahui language and deal with themes such
as tragic love, resistance and war. The Baloch are known to respect bravery and courage, as is required under
the Baloch code of Baloch Mayur. Many Baloch tribal leaders (Tamandar) are honoured through folk songs
and ballads such as who is remembered for defending the principle of ahot (protection)

Tales :
• Hani and Sheh Mureed
• Kiyya and Sadu
• Shahdad and Mahnaz
• Lallah and Granaz
• Bebarg and Granaz
• Mast and Sammo
• Shahdad Chota - tells the tale of a Baloch mercenary who battled the Portuguese in Makran.
• Balach and the Bulethis
Hani and Sheh Mureed : Murid (Balochi Hanee-o-Shay Mureed or Hero Šey Murīd) is a
beloved epic ballad of Balochi folklore This tale is to Balochistan what Romeo and Juliet is to English-
speaking lands. The story mirrors the life of the Baloch heroes and their emotions and philosophical ideas
(God, evil, predestination). The hero of the story Sheh Mureed (or Shaih Moreed) and the heroine Hani are
symbols of pure and tragic love. The story dates back to the 15th century, which is considered to be the
heroic age of Balochistan and the classical period of Balochi literature

Please read the Story is in the following link

[Link]

Dance : Chap - a Baloch style of dancing, has a curious rhythm distinguished by an inertial back sway with
every forward step
 ‫کـــوـار لـوـک‬
Chitrali folklore : Chitrali folkore (Khowar:  ‫ ) هـو‬are folk traditions which have developed in the 
Chitral region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tales from this region are centered on the supernatural, within
the realm of ghosts and spirits and are usually set in cold winter nights.

Tales :

Azhdaar - Chitrali dragons; are described as large, winged serpents with golden manes like a lion. Tales surrounding the azdhaar
usually include protecting treasure and devouring warriors. Tales describe warriors would counter being consumed by the azhdaar by
placing his sword above his head with the tip of the blade in one hand and the hilt in the other. This would tear the azhdaar's fish-like
mouth.
Halmasti - folk tales describe the Halmasti is a wolf-like creature the size of a horse, which spits flames out of its mouth. According to
local tradition, encountering the halmasti is bad omen and sightings of them are often only seen at night. To this day, many truck and
jeep drivers from Chitral's remote valleys have claimed to have see the halmasti running alongside side their vehicles at night, just
before experiencing harrowing accidents.
Barmanu - Chitrali bigfoot or yeti; are described as large bipedal apes, which often attack livestock or attempt to abduct women.
Sightings though have been extremely rare in Chitral, which some claiming tales of barmanu come from Ghizer in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Chatiboi - described as a creature which howls out horrible cries during flash floods and avalanches in Chitral.

Chumur Deki - described as an iron-legged creature, which roams about snowy winter nights in Chitral.

Nangini - described as a female entity from Chitral's ancient folk religion, that would protects the home - the nangini was held in high
reverence
Dance
According to Anjuman Taraqqi Khowar Chitral, there are several main Chitrali dances:[12]
Shishtuwar
Nohtik
Phastok
Barwazi
Shabdaraz
Tatari Wawari
Khongora Phonik
Kashmiri folklore Kashmiri folklore (Kashmiri: ‫لــک‬
‫شمیرـی وـ‬
‫ ) کـــ‬are folk traditions which have developed in 
Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir over a number of centuries. Kashmiri is rich in Persian
words [13] and has a vast number of proverbs, riddles and idiomatic sayings that are frequently employed in
everyday conversation.[14] Folk heroes and folktales reflect the social and political history of the Kashmiri
people and their quest for a society based on the principles of justice and equality.

Tales
Layak Tchoor - tells the tale of a young man who was known to steal from the rich and distribute it among
the poor in the Kashmir Valley. He would cover himself in oil and enter the premises of wealthy individuals
through their chimneys and then escape with all their gold. Layak Tchoor is among several venerated
thieves in Kashmiri folklore including, Usman Cacha, Madav Lal and Layak Sing.
The Legend of Himal and Nagrai (Himal Nagraya)
Shireen Farhad
Aka Nandun
Gul Noor

Dance : Dances are done on all major functions and weddings in Kashmiri traditions such as birthdays,
weddings, and crop harvesting. These include Kud, Dumhal, Bhand Pather,Bacha Nagma, Hafiza,Bhand
Jashan,Wuegi Nachun
 ‫ښتون لـوـک‬
Pashtun folklore : Pashtun folklore (Pashto:  ‫ ) پـــ‬are folk traditions which have developed in 
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over a number of centuries, as well as parts of eastern Afghanistan .

Tales

Adam Khan and Durkhana : Adam Khan aw Durkhanai is a classic Pashtun romance which has been
called the Pashto Romeo and Juliet along with Yusuf Khan and Sherbano Adam Khan is from Bazadara Bala
(village in Malakand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and Durkhanai is from Bazadara Payan. It is considered a
classic Pashto literature.

Yusuf Khan and Sherbano The story, put into verse by the Pashtun poet Ali Haider Joshi (1914–2004), is
about Yusuf Khan, a hunter who falls in love with the beautiful Sher Bano. Yusuf Khan’s jealous cousins
conspire against him. They deprive him of the legacy from his deceased father, and while he is serving in
the army of King Akbar, arrange Sherbano’s betrothal to another man. Yusuf Khan arrives with a military
contingent on her wedding day, avenges himself and marries his beloved. They are happy together, but
when Sherbano sends him to hunt for game he is betrayed by his deceitful cousins and killed on a
mountain. Sherbano rushes to his side and takes her own life.

Dance : Attan , Khattak dance

Punjabi folklore (Punjabi: ‫نجابـی قـصهـ‬
‫ ) پـــ‬is a tradition of Punjabi language oral story-telling that came to 
Punjab with the fusion of local people and migrants from the Arabian peninsula and contemporary Iran.[18]
 Where Qisse reflect an Islamic and/or Persian heritage of transmitting popular tales of love, valour, honour
and moral integrity amongst Muslims, they matured out of the bounds of religion into a more secular form
when it reached Punjab and added the existing pre-Islamic Punjabi culture and folklore to its entity.

Tales[edit]
Most of the Punjabi folktales (qisse) were written by Muslim poets who wandered the land.
Mirza Sahiba by Peelu
Heer Ranjha by Waris Shah
Sohni Mahiwal by Fazal shah Syyed
Sassi Punnun by Hasham Shah
Sucha Singh Soorma
Jeona Morh by Bhagwan Singh
Shirin Farhad
Pooran Bhagat by Kadaryaar
Kehar Singh Ram Kaur
Love Story of Farhad & Shireen with English subtitle is in the following link
[Link]