3: Famous Pakistani Food

Pakistani cuisine is very rich with flavors and spices. Because of the shared history, it resembles quite much to Indian food. Here, some famous foods and beverages of Pakistan are listed:

1. Breads
2. Entree
3. Bar-b-Que
4. Deserts
5. Beverages

1. Breads:

i: Tandoori Naan (Garlic naan, mint naan, plain butter naan):

ii: Paratha (Oily bread):

iii: Poori (Thin fluffy bread):

2. Main dishes / entrée :

i: Biryani:

ii: Pulao:

iii: Qorma:

    iv: Chicken / mutton/ beef Karahi:

v: Koftay

 v: Haleem

3. Bar-b-Que:

i: Chappal Kabab

ii: Shami Kabab

iii: Seekh Kabab

 iv: Bihari Kabab:

v: Chicken Tikka

vi: Sajji

4. Deserts / Meethay:

i: Kheer / Rice pudding:

ii: Ras Malai

iii: Gajar ka halwa (Carrot Halwa):

iv: Sooji ka halwa (Samolina Halwa)

v: Falooda:

vi: Mithai

5: Beverages:

Lassi (Yogurt milk – sweet & Salty)

ii: Mango Lassi:

Urdu reading practice:

reading 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/146251506/Urdu-Reading-Practice-Biryani-recipe

Urdu listening practice:

2: Weddings in Pakistan

Weddings are celebrated differently in different parts of Pakistan yet there are some characteristic events and customs followed in Pakistani weddings all over the country. This post guides you through the whole event of wedding after engagement has been done.

Wedding card: 

Wedding cards are generally colorful and don’t include pictures of bride/groom or any family member. Some families even try to imprint the name of bride and groom indirectly through their recognition with their parents. For example Bint-e-sara ( The daughter of Sara).

Ceremonies and customs in wedding:

There are primarily three events in a wedding:

1. Mehndi / Mayoon (Pre-wedding day of henna application):
2. Nikah & Rukhsati (wedding day when the bride leaves for her husband’s house):
3. Walima (Post-wedding day at bridegroom’s house):

1. Mehndi / Mayoon:

This day is the day of application of henna to the bride. It is the day of yellow, orange and green color primarily.

2. Nikah & Rukhsati:

The wedding day is a celebration in both houses but the girl’s house has a bigger celebration to arrange because the groom’s family and relatives visit the girl’s house/ wedding hall to take the bride with them after the formal religious ceremony of nikah. Both the bride and the groom sign the papers of “nikah” (Marriage contract) and all relatives pray for them.

Food is carefully selected on such occasions with a variety of dishes and luxurious food.

Then the sad moment of the bride’s departure from her father’s house arrives with all eyes wet for the memories of past when she was living with them. Father and brothers of the bride step out with her to lead her to the wedding car.

3. Walima:

Walima is generally the third day of wedding ceremony  that is celebrated at groom’s house. Bride’s family and friends visit her on this reception. Walima dresses for brides are less traditionally colored and designed. Here you will not see the traditional red color. Pink, blue, green, golden and many other colors are seen. This day is generally a joyful day, unlike the tense wedding day.

Urdu reading practice:

 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/146252069/Urdu-Reading-Practice-Shadi-wedding-card

Urdu listening practice:

1: The Festival of Basant / Jashan-e-baharaan

Basant / Jashan-e-baharaan is one of the most popular and colorful festivals in Pakistan. It is a kite flying event that tends to have a lot of self-decided competitions. It is celebrated in the month of February, symbolizing a welcome to the spring. Although the festival is famous all over the country, the province of Punjab is the center of major activity especially the city of Lahore. People gather in Lahore to witness the biggest basant festival of the country. This festival is celebrated  all over the city especially in the “Andaroon-e-Shehr (The inner City or the Walled city) area. This is the ancient part of the city characterized by small streets and old architecture. Roof tops are filled with people, kites, and colors, while the air echoes the music. Every time a kite gets cut by the rival, the winning group shouts the phrase of victory “Bo Kataa” (the kite got cut). Along with its beauties, the festival brings its darker sides as well including numerous death and injuries resulting from hard glass strings, roof falls, and celebratory gun shots.

Urdu Reading Practice:

Urdu Listening Practice: