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Culture
The
pleasures of Pakistan are ancient: Buddhist
monuments, Hindu temples, Islamic palaces,
tombs, pleasure grounds and Anglo-Mogul mansions
- some in a state of dereliction which makes
their former grandeur more emphatic. Scuplture
is dominated by Graeco-Buddhist friezes, and
crafts by ceramics, jewellery, silk goods
and engraved woodwork and metalwork.
Pakistan's
flotillas of mirror-buffed and chrome-sequinned
vintage Bedford buses and trucks are dazzling
works of art. Traditional dances are lusty
and vigorous; music is either classical, folk
or devotional; and the most patronised literature
is a mix of the scholastic and poetic. Cricket
is Pakistan's greatest sports obsession and
national players are afforded hero status
- unless, of course, they proselytise young
and wealthy English women, then marry them.
Nearly
all Pakistanis are Muslim, and Islam is the
state religion. Christians are the largest
minority, followed by Hindus and Parsees,
descendants of Persian Zoroastrians. Note
that dress codes are strictly enforced: to
avoid offence invest in a shalwar qamiz
- a long, loose, non-revealing garment worn
by both men and women.
Pakistani
food is similar to that of northern India,
with a dollop of Middle Eastern influence
thrown in for good measure. This means menus
peppered with baked and deep-fried breads
(roti, chapattis, puri, halwa and nan),
meat curries, lentil mush (dhal), spicy
spinach, cabbage, peas and rice, and of course
that staple of hippies, the sturdy Hunza pie.
Street snacks - samosas and tikkas
(spiced and barbecued beef, mutton or chicken)
- are delicious, while a range of desserts
will satisfy any sweet tooth. The most common
sweet is barfi (it pays to overlook
the name), which is made of dried milk solids
and comes in a variety of flavours. Though
Pakistan is officially 'dry', it does brew
its own beer and spirits which can be bought
(as well as imported alcohol) from specially
designated bars and top-end hotels.
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