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With the advent
of industrialization after partition, there arose a gradual change in tht
total outlook of the women. Life in cosmopolitan cities was a big leap
forward as more and more women started working and coming in contact with
the western world. This led to big change in the pattern of life style
which included the dressing, the food, the home environment etc.
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The general trend is to wear confortable and fashioned clothes which do
not hinder in work. More and More Sindhi ladies have opted for Salwar-Kurta,
skirts, midis and sarees in preference to the PArho, Koti cholo and suthan.
Irrespective of age and marital status, the preference is for salwar-kurtas
of various styles like the dhoti salwar, the patiala salwar, harem salwar,
contrast coour dresses, jaipur-bandhini dresses, mirror work, embroideries,
sequences work, also are the midis of gypsy style and the golden belts
etc. As compared to many other ladies, Sindhi women are more of consious
fashion tend to dress in the latest styles.
Ladies of the older generation prefer to wear sarees amd salwar suits.
It is no longer compulsory for widoes to wear white all the time. They
also opt for light printed punjabi suits and sarees. Silk and cotton materials
are prefered to other materials. Though Sindhi ladies were fond of amber,
susi, kanawes, bakhamal, kundi and voil etc. Now-a-days imported materials
from Japan, Singapore, Dubai, Taiwan, Korea yet they are more in fashion
as these are easy to wash and wear. The ethenic is preferred. For wedding
morgirls are opting for CHANIYA CHOLI whereas Sindhi ladies in Sind in
early fifties, opting coloured rustle, shocking pink i.e. khuinbo where
as today ladies prefer various shades of pink, maroon and red. Through
this is time of the women in cosmopolitan cities, there is also a gradual
awareness among the women in smaller towns. Though they may not wear skirts
and jeans, they too are opting for sarees and the more comfortable salwar
kameez.
Gone are the days of Nath, Bulo, Panzeb and Chher Diamond nose studs are
more in vogue today ladies are more intrested in ear studs double and triple
even. The mangalsutra is now taken to be a sign of married lady. Diamond
and Gold sets are preferred for parties and social gatherings. As for working
women, they prefer to wear artifitial and American Diamond jewellery, as
it is cheaper and safe. Glass bangles, toe-rings, payals (both gold and
silver) bracelets and chains, laxmi mala, Motian ji mala Jhumika, Dura,
Phuli are still in fashion and are part of Sindhi women's dress today.
Preference is also for matching jewellery and this includes plastic brass,
silver and shell jewellery.
More and more importance is being attached to belts, scarves shoes and
bags, which go a long way in complementing a Sindhi woman's dress. The
latest fashions include silk shoes, leather shoes, sandals, net shoes,
evening pursesand also fansy stone-studded ones, for casual wear Kolhapuri
chappals of various kinds are todays demand and sre easily available. Yong
girls prefer to wear smart shoes and lacy shocks and stockings which complement
jeans and skirts. Jaipuri juties of various coloured embroidary, like of
olden days sapata are again in demand. It is indeed a rare sight to see
today's Sindhi women carrying baskets or old fashioned cloth bags. The
accent today is on leather bags and smart ahopping bags of various colors
and styles, of latest style are very much in vogue.
HAIR STYLE AND
BEAUTY AIDS |
In contrast to the flat hair style of the yester years, smart cuts are
preferred these days. There are various kinds of clips and buckles and
satin ribbons available which help to go in for simple yet showy hairstyles.
French plaits, top knots and bouncy curls are preferred to the old fashioned
big buns. Married Sindhi ladies like to use sindoor and gold zarito perms
their plait. Flowers and gold braids and multi colored beads are used to
decorate hair on special occasions. Beauty aids include not just the lipstick
and rouge but a variety of cosmetics which help not only in enhancing looks,
but also preserving them. Skin care is an important part of the beauty
in a Sindhi lady's life. Various lotions and creams are used to pamper
one's skin and in keeping off the wrinkles and crows feet. Nailpolishes,
mascara, eyeshadows, glitters are some of the various beauty aids in today's
fashion. Herbal products are more in demand, since the idea is not just
to beautify but also to maintain a clean good skin. Facials manicure and
pedicure have become a part of a routine life and they go for souna steam
as well as and yoga to keep fit glamourous and beautiful.
As comapred to easy-going pace of the yesterdays', todays' Sindhi women
have to keep pace of todays modern world. they try to maintain a harmonious
balance between their home life and outside world. Many of them are working
women, who have to look after their homes and children as well as do their
jobs. They tend to keep their weekends for socialising, kity parties also
become a part of life for many Sindhi ladies. This is goood to a one certain
extent for one develops contacts. Video movies, television, going to restaurants
for meals, cocktail parties, playing cards, chinese foood are some of the
modes for entertainment in today's world. Everything within limit is permissible;
but after a certain extent it becomes artificial. Most sindhi women have
realised this and try to maintain a life style which includes prfrence
for homelife and family; but at the same time fulfilling their social needs.
The olden days, the houses were huge and servents aplenty. Ladies had lot
leisure time to crochet, knit, embroider things for the household. It was
also chesap, to do so twhere as today's computerised world, this is not
possible for most women. This is not to say that sindhi women have lost
the knack for fine handiwork. In fact, mostly sindhi women have maintained
such hobbies and talents which include tailoring, embroidery etc. But one
has to move along with the time and so while some have opted for other
hobbies like flower arrangement, Ikebana, computers' courses, some have
utlised their talent by opening boutiques or becoming interior decorators.
The house decor reflects the personality of the home maker. In today's
world where time is the ruling factor and there is the limited availability
of space, it is essential to maintained an uncultured look. It is rare
to find orntely decorated houses. Most sindhi women prefer simple and elegant
looking homes which are easy to maintain. Today, ethnic look is very much
in vogue. These is because it is cheaper and easier to maimtain than heavy
wood and glass furniture. Where in Sind, PEENGHO was an essential; furniture
it is veryt difficult to keep and maintain.
There has been diamitrical change in the food habits of the Sindhis. What
with the fast pace of life, one no longer has time to cook delicacies like
Kok Palo and Kumbhi Beeha over coal fires. Today is the day of fast food
and the microwave oven and the cooking range. People are also very health
concious and avoid fatty foods and spices. Thus theY AVOID 'Koki'and Malpurha
for breakfast. These are eaten on holidays or special occassion. Also,
with the entermingling of the various culture and nationalities, food habits
have also being influenced. it is not unsual to find a sindhi lady cooking
chinese or continental maels, idlies and dosas, hamburgers and pizzas to
suit the varied tastes of her family members. Today's breakfast usually
consists of toast and eggs with tea or coffee where as then in Sind, we
were fond of Sayoonpatata with Ambiruyan-jo-Achar, Sache gheeji kutti,
Dal pakwan, Malpurha,malai wara malpura, mungan ji dal jo seero, mani seyal,
masale wari koki ain dahi, Juar jo dhodho ain lassi, chilo, patate jo phuliko,
moori jo parantho ain papar, chhiro phuliko, penho(mitha ain chahira),
methi masale wari puri, kachori,jalebyoon.
Many ladies have turned their hobby for cooking into a professoin by
conducting cooking classes. Some have opened beauty parlours, Ladies tailors,
fashion designers and out fitters are also some profession which sindhi
ladies have opted to utilise their hobbies in a gainful manner.
Today we take very light as well as dry lunch depending on the person's
work. Where as then in Sind we use to eat Besani bhaji(seyal aaniyoun,
phote mein, laag mein besan milho), saai bhaji-methi-a-me chanwar, Beehan
ji bhaji(Seyal and dag mein), gogiroo(thome mein), Pali,Lunak, Karhichanwar,
Took patata, Dadhiri, Suran(Seyalain kofta), Variyoon patatan ji bhaji,
Gobi(chithyal, tariyal, Tooriyoun. Ganaran jo saag), Daal(Kukaman wari,
singin wari, chanan ji, masur ji, te dali with thoom jo tirko), Sero(Gajjurun
and pethe jo), Karela(Masale mein, triyal, seyal), Mariaro, Bheendiyoun(triyal,
seyal, patate vangan sa), Meha(triyal, seyal, our mein), Vangan(triyal,
seyal, bharito), Sunhajirho, Varyoon(Pulav, patate mein), Munga, Mattar
etc.
In the evening we us to take some light snacks, hot pakora with Thado
phuliko. These pakoras are favourite for almost all the Sindhis then i.e.
Vangan, Patata, Meha, Gobi, Basaran-ja-sanha pakora, Palak, Kadu, Mirch,
Besh etc. Sambosa, Patate ji tikki, Golgappa, Fota - Satpaida(Chanan-ja-bafiyal),
Dal, cholla, dabal(bread), Kunhe ja beeeha, Bafiyal lorh, Lahori gajjar(Mithi
obariyal(Boiled), Faruaan, Burani etc. In the cold season we used to eat
Mazoon, Manih jaladoon, Doonghi-a-ja varho khakhas waro, Kuti-a-ladoon,
Layoon, were very famous then. Now a days we use to eat Panipuri, Dahipuri,
Behlpuri, Sevpuri, Ragda pettis, Pav bhaji, Vada pau, Idli samddhar, Vada,
Dosa, Puri chole, Pizza, Frankie etc. In Sind, summer nudles season was
enjoyed by Thadal, Bhanga with Badam, Jeero, Kara mirch, khakhas. In today's
health conscious ladies prefer salads (russian, desert) as important part
of meals. Salad - Raito - matho. Scinhajiro - Bundi - Dadhi - Vegetables.
But many sindhi ladiesa have adopted typical sindhi receipes to suit
the tastes of their family, thus retaining the taste for sindhi flvours
along with the other kinds of foods. Then we used to enjoy in the Dinner,
Miteran
ji bhaji, Variyooun kare mirch(Peeper), Fool patasha, Khumbhiyoon, Masale
varoun bheendiyoonain vangan, Singyoun seyal patatan variyou, Guwar thoom
mein. For non-vegetarians ghosit(mutton, Palo, Titira, Gandann(about a
foot long), Palo(about 2ft), Dhambhro(about 3ft long), Morkhi or Mori(about
3ft.), Theilha(about 6 inches), Petohri(about 4 inches long), Singhi(about
6 inches), Dimmann(about 18 inches), Kirrhi(8" long), Khaggo(6") etc. are
fishes eaten in those days. Magaz(Brain), Bukiyoon(kidney), Tiri(Spleen),
Kapoora(not recommanded ladies), Pale-ji-aani, Bedan ja poakorha, keeme-ja-kofta,
chicken leg, kukurha(hen) was not eaten in those days, mutton biryani,
machi-a-jo pulao was very much liked then. raan sekiyal(leg of goat) was
mostly eaten by our Sindhi zamindars on their agricultural farms and fieds.
Sindhis were fonggd of Achar and Murba i.e. Ambinyoun(Mango), Gajroon
mutta and tel mein, Gogiroo, basa ain mirch, leema, vangan, Bheendi, (Shikarpuri
gothiri), Daunira, Gedura, Adrak, etc. were very popular and even today
are being used. Mithi chatni, Amban ain soofan jo murbo, Aauran jo murbo,
Gajrun jo murbo, etc. are still in use.
In the Upvaas and Gyaras Sauri-a-jo dhodho, lahori gajurin jo seero,
patata ain beeha, befiyal ji bhaji was used then and even now.
In Sind daroon (drinks) Amber, Khasturi of Kairpur riyasat used to be taken
in the Kut-jo-katori mostly in the late evenings where as today we sindhis
are fond of whiskies of various brands, brandies(Cognac), Rum, Gin, Wine,
Beer are very common in rich and cultured families. Though in those days
younger ones were restricted from driks, but today younger ones are very
much interested in drinks. It is not good but time has changed and young
generation do not consider it reflects the character, on conytrary seem
to be status symbol and modern thinking, which has spoiled many families.
Today cocktail parties are followed by the marriage functions where many
Indian and imported drinks are served in five-star hotels where not only
the men but women also drinks, smoke and dance on the western music.
In the night after the dinner we used to take the Khirni(Sabudana, chanwar,
Saoan, dry fruits- pista, badam, khishmish, illachi and kesar).Where as
in the sweets in the day or the night were eusually taken. Mesu Pak, Sonvarho,
Mohanthal, tosha, Saatta, Bhugal mano, Naqal, Boondi singar ji mithai,
shat rabini, Mungan ji dal jo seero, badam pistan to varho and khorak was
famous so even today iss common among the rich sindhi families with the
lunch and dinner , we sindhis fond of kachiryoon i.e. Chanwran, Miteran,
Beeham, Keralan, Tooriyan joun kachiryoon were eaten alongwith the kheecha
and papad(tryala and pakal).
With every thing else so much of change, it is but natural that language
and mannerisms also change after coming in contact with this fast paced
world. English has become most popular mode of communication followed by
Hindi. Though the older generation has maintained a certain standard of
spoken English the younger generatiion use slang or Indianised English
phrases like 'Come on yaar, Hi, Hai' etc. It is sad to know that most of
the younger generation do not know Sindhi. Some can only speak Sindhi and
fewer can write in Sindhi. The percentage of young sindhis knowing the
Arabic script is very rare in big cities; though a few can follow the Devnagri.
Sindhi is very much spoken, written in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat,
MAharastra, Delhi.
Mannerisms also have changed. The children no longer address their parents
as 'Amma, Baba, Dada but Mamma, Pappa, uncle. Wives and husbands address
each other by name not like those days as Heddan, Hinan, Kike peeu, or
Chele mao, mithri, dil, etc. This change is good because it reduces the
generation gap and leads to a better understanding and relationship among
family members.

