The Saraiki people or Multani people are an ethnic group from the south-eastern areas of Pakistan, especially in the area from Bahawalpur, Multan to Hyderabad and Karachi. The Saraikis maintain that they have a separate language and culture, but their language is often viewed as a dialect of Sindhi or Punjabi.
History
The Saraiki region formed part of the Indus Valley civilization more than 40,000 years ago. This region has been conquered a number of times by people from West including the Aryans and the Greeks. Persian influence remained strong for many centuries.
When Muslims conquered the region, Islam spread and this region became an important Islamic center. In past all Saraiki areas were part of one single administrative entity called Multan but now it exists as a district that is why it is also known as mother of all Saraiki areas. This region is mainly home to Sufism.
The shrines of Hazrat Baha ud Din Zakariya and Hazrat Shah Rukn e Alam and many Sufi saints such as Ghulam Farid and Muhammad Suleman Taunsvi are also very popular and especially the tomb of Sakhi Sarwar.
Saraiki (Perso-Arabic script) is a standardized language of Pakistan belonging to Indo-Aryan languages. Mainly the Saraiki speaking people form part of Southern most half and Northwest of Punjab, southern districts of Dera Ismail Khan and also in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhua, the adjacent border region of Sindh and Baluchistan provinces and also spoken in Afghanistan.
There is a long list of famous sufi poets belonging to this region and their work is known all around the country. Some of the famous poets are Sachal Sar Mast, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Ghulam Farid. Still there is a small volume of literature available in Saraiki language.
Festivals
Most of the festivals are based on Islamic calendar which include Eid. But due to the regions Sufi influence many events are held for the remembrance of Sufi Saints and to commemorate the Muslim traditions in the region. These events are attended by people from all around the country. These events attract many Sufi singers and poets.
Poetry Shakir Shujabadi (Kalam-e-Shakir, Khuda Janey, Shakir Diyan Ghazlan, Peelay Patr, Munafqan Tu Khuda Bachaway, Shakir De Dohray are his famous books) is very well recognized modern poet.
Sohanjhna and Sohan Halwa:
The Saraiki cuisine is not much different from the traditional dishes all over Pakistan but Sohanjhna is the famous vegetable of the region as well as Sohan Halwa is also a traditional sweet of Multan. It is impossible for someone to come from multan without a box of Sohan Hawla.
Sohan halwa is a traditional speciality of southern Punjab, particularly Multan. It is a halwa dessert that is prepared by boiling a mixture of water, sugar, milk and cornflour until solidified. Saffron is used for flavoring while ghee is used to prevent it from sticking to the pan. Almonds, pistachios and cardamom seeds are added as additives.
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