Ashar

By Nisar Ahmad
Pashtun culture is rich and diverse, with many traditions and customs that vary across different regions and communities. Some common Pashtun cultural practices include the code of Pashtunwali, which emphasizes concepts such as honor, hospitality, and revenge, and the celebration of festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and Jirga.
Ashar is one of the  rite in which one representative from each house in each village takes part. Ashar is organised for villagers' personal tasks that are difficult to complete individually as well as collective tasks. This tradition is unique in that these tasks are completed voluntarily and without compensation.

Ashar includes the following tasks often as grass harvesting, building a new house or demolishing an old one, filling the roof of an under-construction house, and cutting woods for food if there is a wedding ceremony in the village.
The number of people participating in Ashar is not fixed; rather, it is determined by the nature of the work. Sometimes only one person from the neighbourhood who works all day is invited. However, when Ashar is set up for grass harvesting, this number can range from 20 to 100 people, if not more.

During the month of August, the grass on the mountains is cut in large quantities and then dried in the sun to feed the animals later on in winter season.
This process can be seen in the photo, which is currently taking place in northern Pakistan.
This has a lot of excitement,.... in fact, this cutting requires a lot of energy and motivation, for which music from a large drum is produced, which can even be heard in all the nearby villages, while special and delicious food is served to all the participants.

Sadly, this modern era of development and technology has created individuality and thus, socially constructive collective customs are also breaking down. Ashar is also becoming one of them because nowadays Ashar is not as easily organized as it used to be before 20 to 25 years. Whatever the reason is, but we all need to maintain a good tradition in our society. According to time and conditions, their procedures can certainly be changed, but its main purpose should not be changed like helping another person by being selfless. 

It would not be wrong to say that this ritual is the asset of Pakhtoon society and it is also a trust of elders, so its continuity should be maintained.


https://youtu.be/0TkN3vL-Gbc

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