Matiari History
Matiari is the one of oldest territory of Sindh. This region produced a number of religious scholars, educators, intellectuals poets who spread the essence of their knowledge all over the sub-continent. Matiari is the land of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, the great Saint, Soofi poet and lover of Sindh and the world as well.
Historically, this region was ruled by different dynasties, the Soomras (1024-1351), the Summas (1335-1520), the Arghuns (1520-1650), the Kalhoras (1657-1783) and the Talpurs (1783-1843). When Britain invaded the subcontinent, General Charles Napier, a commander in the British Army, defeated the Talpur dynasty and conquered Sindh in 1843. He was appointed as the first Governor General of Sindh.
The province was divided into different administrative units and assigned to Zamindars ( landlords) to collect taxes for the British government. Later on, the rulers of that times developed these areas as urban centers. People migrated from other districts and provinces and started to reside here. The British Empire named these small developed areas as “Talukas”. They built a network of roads, schools, dispensaries and many other civic amenities throughout the province.
Matiari was a taluka of Hyderabad District until 2005 when it was given the status of a district.
Ethnicity and Tribe
The population of Matiari District is a mixture of various heterogeneous groups and cultures. The main races are Syeds, Jamotes, Memons, Shaikhs, Qureshi, Jamali, Dahri, Balochs, Panhwar, Khosa, Khaskheli, whereas Deewan, Menghwar, Kolhi and Bagri are in minority.
Food
The food of the poor class is generally Jawar, rice and wheat with fish occasionally. Among the richest class mutton, poultry, rice and wheat are commonly eaten but the first two kinds of food are confined mostly to the Muslim segments of the society. Majority people used to take rice at night but vegetables, mutton, fish and fowls are taken occasionally. Wheat Chapatti during day whereas rice and milk at night is the popular diet among people. Tea is considered common among all people. All type of confectioneries are taken on special ceremonies and among them “Matiari’s Mawa” is very famous.
Dress and Ornament
Ajrak, a unique form of block printed shawls found in Sindh Province, is famous among the people of the district. These shawls display special designs and patterns made using block printing by stamps. Common colours used while making these patterns may include but are not limited to blue, red, black, yellow and green. Over the years, Ajrak has become a symbol of the Sindh culture and traditions.
Culture and Tradition
The population of this district is heterogeneous following a kaleidoscopic pattern, which has developed a mix culture. A part from the ceremonies like births and deaths which are followed as ritual and social duties, the changing pattern of social economy and behavioral attitude of the people have diminished the values of culture and traditions.
It is common in all classes of people to visit shrines of Saints. These visits are more pronounced at the time of trouble and misfortune which reflects their faith upon them and such type of faith shows striking cultural and religious differences among different sects.
The youth is growing up with healthy appetite for active games. The playing of team games and regular courses in physical exercises are part of the curriculum of the schools. Cricket, Football, badminton is conspicuous features in this area. In the rural areas the indigenous games like cock and dog fighting and the traditional Sindhi game “Malakhro” are the most famous games. The competitions of such games are arranged
by the local inhabitants of the area.
Betrothal and Marriage
The marriage ceremonies in the district are similar to those in rest of the province/ country. The approach of the wedding day is heralded by playing drums, blowing pipes/ shehnai. In the betrothal ceremony known as Maja or Wanawah, the women from the bride groom’s side go to the house of bride few days before marriage and make the bride (wanawah) to sit in seclusion. The bride, later goes through other ritual ceremonies like dyeing/decorating hands and soles by mendi, dying the lips with musag (walnut bark) and blackening the eyes with kajal etc. The occasion of marriage ceremony starts with the registration of marriage settlements by the witnesses. After acceptance from both bride and bridegroom, the pries/ Nikah Khwan gives sermon reciting verses from the Holy Quran and ends with prayer/ good-wishes.
In matrimonial affairs among the Hindus, particularly Lohanas, the proposal of marriage must come from young lady and not from the swain. The first step towards the marriage is the ascertainment of a luck-day. The months of Sawan and Bhadu are better, Asu is not. With respect to other ceremonies, purohit must be consulted. As the lucky hour approaches, the bridegroom appears, attired in a wonderful façade of pasteboard designed with flowers of colour paper, or sometimes made entirely of silver, called a mutik and mounting on a mare, starts for the bride’s house, accompanied by his friends, drummers, torch-bearers and men that let off fireworks. At the bride’s house he is received with due ceremony into the angan (courtyard), over which a canopy has been erected, where he has a bath and puts on wedding garments presented to him by the bride. The mother of the bride washes his feet with water or milk. Then he goes into the inner chamber, where the women come out leading his bride by the hand and with the corner of his skirt tied to hers. The couple sits on two stools, side by side, with the family or priests in front of them. The priests recite the sapta-padi and when the bride and bridegroom walk seven times round the sacred fire, on which the priests have already made the home sacrifice.
The joining of hands (hathialo) and the circuit of the fire (phera) are the essential of the marriage rite. After this is over gifts are distributed to relatives and the officiating priests. Then the bridegroom, mounting his mare again, but this time with his wife behind him in a doli, goes in joyful procession to his father’s house. Next day the father of the bride gives a feast. A Hindu as a rule has only one wife, but if she remains long childless, he takes another. Divorce is unknown among them. Similarly, remarriage of widow is also uncommon.
Birth
The birth of a child is considered an occasion of great rejoicing and is followed by the distribution of sweets to friends and relatives who come to offer congratulations to the par- ents. Soon after the birth of a child, the Mullah or an elderly male member of the family recites Azan (call for prayer) into the ears of the child. The first sweet food called Gurti (honey) is administered to the baby by some respectable person of the family, known for his good disposition and piety. After this, father gives a name to the baby. On 7th day, Aqiqa ceremony is performed both for a male and female child. One goat is sacrificed in case of a girl and two in case of a boy. The Hindu community follows their own customs on the occusion of birth of a child.
Death
On the death of a person, neighbours, relatives and friends assemble at the house of the deceased to console the bereaved family. All the relatives, people belonging to the Biradri and friends are informed, who immediately come to share the grief of the bereaved family. The face of the de- ceased is turned towards the Ka’aba and the dead body is kept in a proper posture. The corpse is bathed, and wrapped in a coffin of new cotton sheet. Camphor and rose water are sprinkled over the body then carried to the grave-yard where Namaz-e-Janaza is offered before it is lowered in to the grave.
The death is mourned for three days. On the 3rd day, the relatives and friends again assemble and participate in Quran Khwani. On the 10th and 40th day of the death, the relatives assemble again for Quran Khwani this ceremony is called Chaliswan. On this day meals are given by the family of deceased. Hindu and other communities performe funeral ceremony in the light of their own religious beliefs.
Places of Interest
Following are some historical places of Matiari District:
Sarhandi Mosque
This historic mosque is situated in Sarhanid Muhallah and was built in 1213 Hijri. This is believed to be the first ever mosque of Sarhandi family of Sindh.
The Jamia Mosque (Matiari)
This mosque is situated in the Shahi Bazar Matiari, right between the Baaqel Pota and Jarar Pota Muhallas. At one place, Henry Cusines notes that this mosque was first built in 1803 A.D. (1218 Hijri), however that is actually the year of its reconstruction by Mir Ali Khan Talpur before his rule began.
Mausoleum of Syed Pir Sakhi Hashim Shah
Hazrat Sakhi Hashim Shah, one of the greatest religious figures of Matairi town, was born on 12th Rabi ul Awal, 1057 Hijri in the present Pirzada muhalla of the town. He was the great grandson of Hazrat Sakhi Ruknuddin Shah.
Dargah Hazrat Nooh Hothiani (R.A)
The Dargah of Hazrat Nooh Hothiani (R.A) alias Khaibrani (as mentioned in Tohfa-tul- Kiram) is situated in between Khandoo and Khaiber villages named after the saint. His full name has been described as Nooh Hothiani.
Odero Lal Temple Complex
Odero Lal is more than a temple, it is centuries old sanctuary for Hindus and Muslims. At the time of the destruction of the Babri Masjid in the early 1990, it was the only Hindu temple in the subcontinent to be guarded by Muslim devotees. A temple adjoining an ancient mosque where Hindus and Muslims worship together, respect each other’s rituals and observe silence during each other’s prayer times. Odero Lal is indeed a unique religious center, not only in Sindh, but perhaps in the whole world.
Bhitshah (Hala)
This is a small village in Taluka Hala about six kilometers east of Hala at a distance of 52 Kilometers north, north-east of Hyderabad, and is regarded as a sacred village by all Sindh because of tomb of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A), who taught Islamic ideology and died there. There is also a tomb of a great Sindhi poet, Sheikh Ayaz, a beautiful Rest House and a Cultural Center / Museum in this village. Moreover, the annual festival / Mela of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif (R.A) celebrated every year for three days in the month of Safar.
Shrine of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A)
It is a matter of pride and prestige for the people of the district that the greatest of all Sindhi poets, Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A) was born and breathed here. He was born in 1689 A.D. at Hala Haveli, a small village near Oderolal in Taluka Matiari.
He belonged to prestigious family of the Matiari Syeds who also gave name to the town and the district as whole. His great grandfather Shah Abdul Karim of Bulri was himself a famous saint and poet. His father Shah Habib was respected for religious guidance and spiritual blessings. Shah Abdul Latif, commonly known as “Shah” or “Latif” showed sign of his greatness in his early life. He traveled far and wide in search of the Ultimate Truth, visiting the men of learning. He settled down at “Bhit” a mound of sand, and founded a center of spiritual guidance.
This small sand dune is known as Bhitshah after him. He was the greatest poet of the world.
Shah Latif gave an immortal gift in the form of his poetry called “Shah Jo Risalo” which is collection of his poetry. His poetry is divided into thirty six “Surs” or musical compositions that are based on classic “Raags” in Shah’s music. He was a great knower of music and invented a musical instrument called “Tambooro”.
Shrine of Makhdoom Sarwar Nooh
Hala town is said to have been founded about a hundred years ago by Makhdoom Mir Muhammad under the name of Murtizabad when old Hala. It contains two tombs and a Masjid held in much veneration. They are built in the familiar style, with stone foundation and super structure of burnt bricks decorated with glazed tiles.
Khudabad – A Historical City
This is a small village in Taluka Hala about six kilometers east of Hala at a distance of 52 Kilometers north, north-east of Hyderabad, and is regarded as a sacred village by all Sindh because of tomb of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (R.A), who taught Islamic ideology and died there. There is also a tomb of a great Sindhi poet, Sheikh Ayaz, a beautiful Rest House and a Cultural Center / Museum in this village. Moreover, the annual festival / Mela of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif (R.A) celebrated every year for three days in the month of Safar.
Dargah Pir Jhando
Pir Jhando village in Saeedabad taluka had been one of the prominent and prestigious centers of religious education of the Sub-Continent during the peak days of anti-imperial movement. It was highly saturated with religio-political activists. Pir Jhando remained the epicenter of varied popular movements such as Khilafat movement, Hijrat Tehreek, Handkerchief movement. This seminary was established by Syed Rasheedudin Shah, son of Syed Muhammad Yaseen Shah (the first head of Pir Jhando Dargah).