Who are the Afghan Pashtuns?

The Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. Although their exact number is still uncertain, they certainly make up almost half of the entire Afghan population. Pashtuns live mainly in the south and east of the country. They communicate in a distinct language called Pashto - which, incidentally, has been their official language since 1936.

It is speculated that the Pashtuns are descendants of eastern Iranians who migrated to the present area from Persia. However, there is also an interesting legend circulating in Afghanistan that the Pashtuns are actually descended from one of the ancient tribes of... Israel. The Pashtuns are Sunni Muslims, also seen as the historical founders of the Kingdom of Afghanistan.

What is the Pashtunwali code?

The social structure of the Pashtuns is based on the Pashtunwali Code , which is a mixture of a tribal code of honor and local interpretations. It requires, of course, speaking in pasto and observing certain established customs. Hospitality, protection of relatives, defense of property and family honor - these are among the most important principles of the Pashtunwali code. The main aspect of the Pashtunwali code emphasizes personal authority and freedom. Important decisions are made by the loja jirga - or council of elders of the tribe. Women are required to wear a garment that covers the entire body, commonly known to us as a burqa. We'll talk more extensively about this in a moment.

Most Pashtuns focus on agriculture (irrigated wheat) and animal husbandry - this is their main source of income. Some are also involved in the trade of various goods - this includes oriental jewelry.

How do the Pashtuns dress?

As a rural and tribal people, the attire of Pashtuns in Afghanistan is usually made of lightweight undergarments - and thus, is sewn loosely to facilitate movement. Pashtun clothing is made differently for men and still differently for women.

Traditional male attire is usually a kufi, Peshawari cap, turban, sindhi cap or pakul - as traditional headgear, of course. Pashtun leaders sometimes wear a karakul cap - quite like former President Hamid Karzai and former monarchs of Afghanistan.

The traditional female dress is the partūg firaq. Women also sometimes wear solid-colored pants or a long, camisole shirt with a belt. Often they also layer a burqa over all of this. More elaborate and fancy ethnic dresses are trimmed with gold threads, gold beads and come in many different colors on silk fabrics. These dresses are usually worn for special occasions and weddings. They are also complemented with oriental jewelry.

Interesting facts about the Pashtun tribe

Pashtuns are known for their ... poetry. Tappa is the oldest and most popular form of poetry of the Afghan Pashtun tribe. The first line is then shorter than the next, but it reflects all human feelings. It is the only song that is sung in times of sorrow and on the occasion of... marriage. There is also a charbetta, which consists of an epic poem with special rhythms. In it, all aspects of life are discussed, but also the heroism of legendary figures. The tempo is usually very fast and is sung by two or more singers as part of a chorus - one of them reads the first line while the others follow the rest. Women also compose neemakai - which are usually very short songs.

The most important dance of the Pashtuns, on the other hand, is the attan. It is the national dance, performed by both sexes. It consists of 2-5 steps and ends with a clap directed toward the center - after which the process is repeated again. This dance is usually performed with a musician dictating the duration and speed.

On this occasion, women also wear traditional ethnic jewelry. More expensive jewelry is usually made of precious stones and solid metals - such as tribal ceremonies. Oriental Pashtun jewelry is mainly beautiful handmade necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings made from old coins, clutches or beads. The jewelry is able to spice up the beauty of a woman from the Pashtun tribe, but also to ward off... evil spirits! No wonder, then, that it is so eagerly put on by female residents of the Afghan tribe until now.

History of Balinese silver

Baltic amber rings - natural succinite in silver

Nuristanis - an Afghan nation with blue eyes

Lassi - an ancient drink made from yogurt

Who are the Afghan Pashtuns?

Product search engine

Functional

Preferences

Statistics

Marketing

History of Balinese silver

Nuristanis - an Afghan nation with blue eyes

Lassi - an ancient drink made from yogurt

Who are the Afghan Pashtuns?

Product search engine

Privacy Settings

Functional

Preferences

Statistics

Marketing