Muhajir culture

Muhajir culture is the culture of the various Muslims of different ethnicities who migrated mainly from North India (after the partition of British India and subsequent establishment of the Dominion of Pakistan) in 1947 generally to Karachi, the federal capital of Pakistan and before 1947 Karachi is the capital of Sindh. They consist of various ethnicities and linguistic groups. The Muhajirs are mainly concentrated in Karachi and Hyderabad.

Cuisine
Muhajir cuisine refers to the cuisine of the muhajir people and is covered under both Indian and Pakistani cuisines. Muhajirs, after arriving in Karachi, have revived their old culture, including numerous desserts, savory dishes, and beverages. The Mughal and Indo-Iranian heritage played an influential role in the making of their cuisine and therefore Muhajir cuisine tends to use royal cuisine specific to the old royal Muslim dynasties of now defunct states in ancient India. While less known dishes include Korma, kofta, Seekh kebab, Nihari, Haleem, Nargisi Koftay, Roghani Naan, naan, Sheer khurma, and Tea.

Traditional dress
The traditional clothing of Muhajirs is the traditional clothing worn by Muslims in North India, and it has both Muslim and South Asian influences. Both Muslim men and women wear the shalwar kameez as a daily dress, and kurta, pyjama and brightly-coloured waistcoats for special occasions. Other traditional dresses for muhajirs include the sherwani, which is believed to have been introduced to Pakistan by Muhajirs, sari, which is an un-stitched stretch of woven fabric arranged over the body like a robe and Gharara which originated from the Nawabs' attempt to imitate the British evening gown.

Festivals
Festivals celebrated by Muhajirs include religious, political, ethnic, and national festivals. Islamic festivals which are celebrated by Muhajirs include Eid-al-Fitr celebrated to mark the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan, Eid-al-Adha to honour the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Ismail) as an act of obedience to God's command, and Ashoura to mourn the death of Husayn ibn Ali and celebrate the day of salvation for Moses and the Israelites from Biblical Egypt. Political celebrations include MQM Founding Day celebrated to mark the founding of the first Muhajir nationalist party Muttahida Qaumi Movement, believed to be the architect of Muhajir identity, and APMSO Founding Day celebrated to mark the founding of the first Muhajir nationalist student union All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization. Muhajirs celebrate Muhajir Cultural Day as an ethnic and cultural festival. To celebrate this day, rallies depart from all areas of Karachi to Mazar-e-Quaid, and political parties and civil society organisations set up their camps to welcome participants in the rally and to express solidarity.