Namak Mandi -Peshawar (A Traditional food street):

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Many people does not know that Peshawar main food street is called Namak Mandi where mostly food is based on meat mostly Tikka Karahi.. It contain unique taste and provide best traditional cuisine that make it an exceptional food centre where most visitors can hardly resist. People from from various part of Pakistan visit here and enjoy it.

The restaurants in *Namak Mandi serve marvelous tikka and karai.. Meat is ordered by the kilogram, and then prepared according to your preference. 

Namak Mandi took 50 years to develop to its current status, and it’s delicious, traditional Tikka Karahi attracts both foreign and local tourists. Sitting at the carpeted floor or on charpoys at any restaurant, one can see fresh lamb hanging on racks, and black woks (Karahi) set above burning charcoal.

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Paranda

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Paranda is a beautiful hair accessory which women tie with braids. Pakistan is very famous for making handwoven Parandas. It is one of the traditional  handicrafts of Pakistan.

Paranda is made up of  many colors,  mostly black, yellow or multicolored three strands with trendy designs at the end of each strands. Parandas also comes in a shape of beaded ornaments.  

Parandis are available with a great variety in designs and colors. They are made out of a bunch of silk threads, intricately woven with other skillful works.  It is a long bunch of threads with elaborate decorative tassels at the lower end. There are threaded 3 ropes which are braided into the hair

Women are fond of decorating their hair with it. It is use to adorn the lower end of their plaits with rich gold and mulch-colored threads, ribbons and pearls, enhancing the look of their attire with this ingenious hair accessory.  Mostly women having long hair plait and then tie a paranda at the end to enhance beauty of there hair.

 

The craftsmen require a great deal of patience and creativity while producing the parandas. They reflect the natural liveliness and spontaneity of the people of Pakistan.

In Pakistan parandas are available in different types, each one of them designed for a specific occasion.It gives very stunning  look on bridal braids. Girls and brides love to wear paranda in Mehandhi occasions. Brides wear floral prandas on wedding day as well which look very elegant with red bridal dress.

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KOLHAPURI CHAPPAL

Kolhapuri chappals are hand-crafted leather slippers . Kolhapuri chappals are made from processed leather. Hides of buffalo are processed and grazed. Grazing of leather makes the leather hard enough for daily wear and tear use. They are locally tanned using vegetable dyes. These chappals are stout, sturdy, day long usable are quite sturdy, durable and long lasting in use. These Slippers are best to use in summer.

Using specific templates, the basic chappal design is then cut out. Depending upon the final product, the cut outs are kept in natural color or dyed as per specifications. An amazing thing to note here is that not a single iron nail is used in the entire manufacture process. The sole and the upper body of the chappals are joined together by stitches which are done with a leather cord. Other embellishments and adornments then follow in making a fancy pair of Kolhapuri chappals. 

Ladies Kolhpuri chappals have lot of variety of designs , styles and 
colors.  These chappals are available in a spectrum of colors like bright pinks, fuchsia, red, white and many others. 

Kolhapuri chappals, are adorned with gold cord, zari strips, pom poms or gota . Kolhapuri chappals. can be ideally used for formal functions like Mehndi , weddings, Eids and parties.








 







 

Peshawari chappal***** =================

Peshawari chappal is more like a sandal than a slipper It is worn by men casually or formally, usually with the Shalwar kameez dress. Peshawari chappals have spread and become increasingly popular in other parts of Pakistan where wearing them with jeans has also become a fashion trend, especially among the urban youth.

The shoe takes its name from the city of Peshawar, where it originates from while "chappal" is the Pakistani word for flip-flops. Peshawari chappal can be worn by men casually or formally, usually with the Shalwar kameez dress. For Pashtun people, it is more than a sandal or slipper because of its comfortableness.

Peshawari chappal is as old as Peshawari culture. It is so old that its history is lost in ambiguity. Peshawari chappal has some distinct. It is made of pure leather of high quality and is free from all types of chemicals due to these qualities it become better from other footwear Those who wear it can not be affected by any type of skin infection or skin disease. The  leather soles are hand-stitched.The pure original leather prevents stench and makes it more comfortable. It is very comfortable to wear.

 Peshawari Chappals never become old-fashioned. If is wear in  special event is such as an engagement, Mayon,  Mehendi ceremony and weddings.  

Peshawari chappal is famous for its durability.  The chappal’s cutting, stitching and fitting; everything is done by the manufactures by their own hands and they strive to make the best possible pair of chappal. Durability of  Peshawari chappal is better than any other footwear.

Peshawari chappal gives both a traditional look on shalwar qameez and a trendy appearance when worn with jeans. This east-meets-west feature adds to its fame and due to the continuing increase in popularity.

Chicks Art

Chicks Curtains Art

Chick art is an outstanding and unique art work of Pakistani cultural artisan. These chicks are very famous as curtains prepared from wood or bamboo. This art is originally originated in village Rasul Nagar and Kasur.

In the early ages artists made these chicks very simple and were used as curtains in homes and were very cheap, it is also the easiest way of protection of the homes from the warmth of the sun in summer. Traditionally these chicks are also used to keep one’s privacy. That was the time when people residing in villages and made these chicks and then also sell and used in their homes.

At that time homes were not constructed properly and these chicks were used as wall or boundary that makes their veil for keeping their privacy. But now the trend of making these simple chicks has been greatly changed. 

In the modern times chicks are like a masterpiece of art work, now they are made with great innovation and creativity even they are not just a simple piece used in villages they are also appreciated and used in cities for both decoration purpose and as a curtains.

Bamboo blinds are practical window treatments that help to enhance the comfort and beauty of home or office. The blinds are made up of woven shafts of bamboo that have been whittled, stripped and sanded.

Qingqi Rickshaws

Qingqi Rickshaws a new version of Public transport**

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QINGQI  Rickshaw is a new version of public transport. It is a modified motorbike, which is attached with a steel body with two wheels. 6 people including a drive can easily ride the Rickshaw at once.

In few years where CNG and petrol prices are increased and public transportation has become expensive, Qinggi Rickshaws are playing vital role in public transport for short distance.

Qingqi Rickshaws have provided a big relief to people as it charges low than buses, mini buses and coaches. No one on the Qingqi Rickshaw travels while standing everyone is seated.

SHU (Hand Loom Woolen Fabric) (Chitral-Pakistan)

Shu is a major product of the cottage industry in chitral  Shu is also called Patti. It is a hand-spun, hand-woven, hand-loom fabric made of sheep’s wool. The wool used to make Shu can be knitted, woven into a fabric or used for embroidery and embellishment.

Shu is usually produced in lengths of 20 yards and between 12 to 14 inches wide. It comes in natural shades of white, gray, black and brown, and the distinctive walnut-dyed, red. The fabric is felted after weaving which ensures that as well as being light and warm, it is also wind-proof. 

Because of its purely natural and organic origins It is highly in demand, not only in Pakistan but in entire world' Shu's products are used in various forms. Knitted items includes hats, coats, bags, gloves, socks, shawls, blankets,gowns, stoles, sweaters, vests, and ponchos.

Shu has a rich background of indigenous knowledge and skill in every stage of its production Shu has a rugged texture, and a unique look and feel, there will always be a difference in the shade of each individual item.  There are many women involved from all over Chitral in the Shu sector and women artisans are playings a vital role in making of Shu.

In the remote past it was one of the basic needs of the people for making garments and quilts. Some of the early products of this handicraft was Zhil (quilt) and paitawa (wrapper on legs). Then long shirts named raghz were introduced. With the passage of time the skilled hands of Chitral women began to make more varieties. All these garments were made of Shu and every household used to be self sufficient in making these types of clothings. Large white blankets called Thakht were gifted to brides at the time of wedding.

There are many phases of making of SHU. Wool is the basic ingredient in the making of Shu. It is obtained from the backs of the small, local and unique breed of sheep in Chitral called Kailey.

A tool called a Sareel is used to shear the hair from the back of the sheep in a very traditional manner. This shearing process is called Brainik. 

The wool is normally available in four natural colors: black, white, grey and brown. A reddish color is achieved by dying the wool in walnut hulls. Walnut dyeing is called Roik.

There is a moisture and grease in the wool when it is obtained from the sheep, a fine quality of white soil called Puchuti is mixed with the wool before carding which removes the moisture from the wool and allows the fiber to be separated.

After carding, the wool is distributed among the women members of the family for teasing. A handful of wool is called Dappi when it is in the process of teasing. After finishing these are passed on to the spinner.

Women spin the wool on a spinning wheel. Thread for Shu is made in two varieties. The single-ply thread for warp is called Tone.

Wore is rolled on a Thasurak by the spinner, ready for weaving. Thasurak Daru is a bobbin. It is an 8-10 long hollow piece of wood with a 1/4 diameter. It is used to hold rolls of single-ply thread in the boat shuttle for weaving.

Maku is an oval-shaped wooden boat shuttle, with sharp edges at both ends. It has an empty abdomen with holes to facilitate the fitting of the thasurak inside. It has a hole for the passage of thread. The weaver rotates it left to right for weaving. Maku is the most delicate and beautiful piece among the spinning and weaving tools. Tone is kept in Phani, a large cone-shaped ball wrapped onto a stick until it is rolled as a thread ball called Pindalu. Beaming/warping- the weaving preparation process before warping the thread through the heddle of the loom so that the threads do not tangle.The tone is warped on the heddle of the hand loom by the spinner or a skilled woman.

Weaving is always done by a man. He processes the wool on a handloom. The best quality of Shu in Chitral is called Moghekan 

After weaving, the Shu is washed. It is felted in hot spring water (Garam Chashma), where it is washed and beaten with a stick to make the fibers cling together and produce a wind proof finished fabric.

After washing, the Shu is twisted around a wooden rod which is fixed into a stone wall. The other end of the rod, which is not attached to anything, is turned around to squeeze all the excess water from the material.

Calendaring is done to pull the wool into shape while it is still wet. Shu is dried by hanging it from the trees, or laying it across flat rocks, stone walls or anywhere else that is available. The Shu is then rolled up

W-11 The famous Mini bus of Karachi

Mini Bus W-11

W-11 is famous mini bus of karachi called the King of Karachi Roads.No one can beat these buses in art, craft decoration. It has out Standing Decoration.