Pishori
Pishori are an Indo-Aryan people of Peshawar, known elsewhere as Hindkowans.[1][2] The word Pishori translates to people of Peshawar or Pishore. Hindkowans of Peshawar refer to themselves as Pishori; however, the term Hindkowan was given to them when the Pashtuns from Eastern Iran moved into Gandhara [3]. Pishoris are the direct descendants of Gandhara civilization and are the first people of Peshawar.[4]
Origins
The civilization of Pishoris/Hindkowans of Peshawar is 5000 years old[5]. Pishoris have existed with different names, their ancient name was Gandharan.[6] They practiced Hinduism and Buddhism in ancient times but are mainly known for Buddhism due to Gandhara and its peak.[7][8]
Theory
A very popular ancestry theory of Pishoris is that they have been linked with the Puru clan.[9] The ancient name of Peshawar was Purushupara which was initially ruled by a Hindu king Purush, of Puru clan, which indicates that the first inhabitants of the city were people of Puru clan, modern-day Pishoris.[10]
Residence
Pishoris in Peshawar dominate old-Peshawar areas. Even though Pishoris were in the majority in Peshawar before partition, after the partition many left for India while many moved to other cities of Pakistan after Pashtun migration around the 12th century[11]. However, many Pishoris still dominate old areas of Peshawar like Kissa Khwani Bazaar, Gor Khatri, Gul bahar, Namak Mandi, Dabgar Gardens, Kohati, Daman e Hindki, Shakar Pura and many more districts of Old Peshawar.[12]
Ancient Pishori/Hindko Clothing
In ancient times, Pishori men wore sarees with pallu draped around the arm or shoulder with ankle bangles, armlets, earrings, necklaces, and headpieces. If they were Buddhist monks or meditating, they would cover the entire body with a saree[13]; if they were working, they would drape the saree as trousers with no top and would go to work.[14]
While Pishori women would drape the saree similarly to their men, having pallu over the shoulder, wearing belts, waist chains, armlets, headpieces, earrings, necklaces and ankle bangles in ancient times[15]. While working women would wrap the saree as trousers to work or do the household chores. They didn't wear a blouse, so they had necklaces to cover their chest, or they would just walk around bare-chested[16]
Famous Pishori Bazar
The famous Pishori Bazaar, also known as Kissa Khwani Bazar, has been existing since ancient times.[17] Kissa Khwani bazar translates to bazar of storytellers because in ancient times, many travellers from the Silk Road, China, Africa and the Middle East would come and tell their stories of travels in the ancient bazar of storytellers over a cup of green tea. Many Pishori elders also gather in this bazar to pass down the tales of their ancestors[18]
Famous Pishoris
- Dilip Kumar, an ethnic Hindkowan from Peshawar
- Shah Rukh Khan, a Bollywood actor with partial Hindko ancestry
- Raj Kapoor, a Hindko speaker but ethnically Punjabi
- Muhammad Ayub Khan, an ethnic Hindkowan
References
- ↑ "Hindko History". hindkopoint (in اردو). 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
- ↑ https://www.peshoribaithak.com/. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "Pishori people".
- ↑ https://www.geocurrents.info/geopolitics/ancient-gandhara-and-modern-pakistani-politics
- ↑ "How old are Hindkowans".
- ↑ "Hindko Language".
- ↑ "Hindko Culture". Pakistan Cultural Hub. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
- ↑ "Pishori religion".
- ↑ "Theory".
- ↑ "Alexander the Great Fought This King of India".
- ↑ "Residence of Hindkowans".
- ↑ Shackle, C. (October 1980). "Hindko in Kohat and Peshawar". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 43 (3): 482–510. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00137401.
- ↑ "Hindko clothing".
- ↑ (PDF) http://journals.uop.edu.pk/papers/09Faiza.pdf. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "Hindko clothing".
- ↑ "Hindko clothing".
- ↑ "qissa khwani bazaar". Asia Society. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
- ↑ "Hindko bazaar".
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