Join us for a taste of the delicious Bohra community cuisine!

The Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community lives in over 40 countries- starting from Yemen moving to Indian Gujrat and then to various cities of Pakistan -mainly Karachi, Hyderabad and Rawalpindi.

The meal is served with a in a large round thaal (platter) with 8-10 people eating from it, mostly seated on the floor. The unique cuisine blends with local tastes, while retaining its Arabic, Mughlai and Gujrati flavours .

Traditionally,the meal starts with a pinch of salt to clear the gut, cleanse the palate and to help fight several diseases.
We have selected the most popular items for you to savour! Chicken Bohra Biryani, Naan / Kaari Chawal, Dum Qeema, Potato in green masala with different chutnies, Vegetable Dhokla, Qeema cutlets, Dum Qeema, Khaman Dhokla, Kheer Puri.
Some of these dishes will be demonstrated and others served along with a 'cultural' briefing by Munira and her husband Oowais who run Moni’s Food in Rawalpindi - catering to the their own community- and others that have an appreciation for this special cuisine!

In conversation with Zahid Hussain...

In His introduction to the book, journalist Ghazi Salahuddin states, 'In a larger perspective, Zahid Hussain's interviews of Benazir Bhutto that he had done for the news monthlies Herald and Newsline,underline the essential role that journalism plays in the compilation and understanding of history...'

The story begins in 1986 when Benazir Bhutto returned home to lead her party's struggle against the military dictatorship of General Zia ul-Haq and ends in her tragic assassination in 2007. Zahid Hussain enjoyed a long association with Benazir Bhutto as a journalist and got the rare opportunity to observe her political journey up close.

'Face to Face with Benazir' is a compilation of interviews of the late Benazir Bhutto ( twice-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan) published in the Herald and Newsline magazines from 1986 to 2002. They provide rare insights into Benazir's thoughts and struggles during her tumultuous life.

Zahid Husain is an award- winning journalist and author. A former correspondent of Times of London and the Wall Street Journal, he has authored several books including 'Frontline Pakistan', 'The Scorpion's Tail' and 'No Win War- the paradox of US- Pakistan relations in Afghanistan's Shadow' .

'Face to Face with Benazir' is his latest offering!

The western parts of the Margalla have a unique terrain of hills that provide a great hiking experience and this time of the year is certainly the best season to explore the Kainthla trails & Trail 7!

We will gather at the parking of F-9 Park at Bolan Gate (F-10 facing) and car pool to reach the Trail 7 trailhead which is near D-12. Alternatively you can meet us directly at the trailhead parking.

Hike rating is moderate as the total distance is around 8Km loop. If you dont want to do the complete hike,you can turn back from the first main viewpoint which will be after 2 Km. (Total hike: 4 Km ).

Wear sturdy shoes and bring refreshments.

Self- Drive

Another unique farming initiative... join us for a visit to one of the few local farms to have successfully grown ginger in Pakistan!

Ginger- known as 'adrac' in the Subcontinent, is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems about one meter tall, bearing narrow leaf blades.

Nishtar Farms is located in Chak Shahzad and is approximately is 15 acres in size. We will be given an informative tour of the farm by our host, Kassim Nishtar and will also have an opportunity to buy farm produce.

Please bring a good pair of walking shoes, hat/cap, water bottle, small scissors/cutters, basket/bag for vegetables

Please bring along refreshments for a picnic!

An opportunity not to be missed!

'Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has profoundly influenced many other cuisines in Asia and beyond, with modifications made to cater to local palates... '

Madame Wu Yanchun at her home kitchen- with spices brought from China - will demonstrate /present the truly authentic Chinese cuisine! The delicious menu representing the different regions of her country. will include: soup; fish, chicken, vegetables, beef dishes; noodles; and rice...

AN EVENING TO REMEMBER !

‘THUMRI’: LOVE, LONGING & COQUETRY IN MUSIC

SUB-CONTINENTAL SANGEET

The Asian Study Group – in collaboration with PNCA- is delighted to bring to you an evening of ‘Thumri ‘-a vocal genre or style of sub continental music- connected with dance, dramatic gestures and evocative love poetry !

"Taken from the verb Thumakna... Thumri means to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle!

Quicksilver in tone and ardently romantic in spirit, it needs a delicate heart and a supple and soulful voice, capable of expressing several shadings and colours of tones to bring out its beauty..."

Like Sub continental classical music itself, some of these forms have their origin in folk literature and music.

The programme includes-

• A fascinating Multimedia presentation tracing:

-The Origin & Evolution and types of Thumri

-The Benaras, Lucknow & Punjab Ang

- The classical dance 'Kathak' and Thumri

-Thumri in instrumental music

• Performance & Demonstrations

Presenter: ALLY ADNAN

Ally Adnan is a well-known cultural commentator, musicologist and public speaker. He has conducted extensive research on qawwali, thumri and ghazal and is considered a subject matter expert in the field.

Ally resides in the USA, and writes for a large number of international publications . He is an accredited member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association.

Performance: AKBAR ALI

Equally comfortable in folk and classical music, Akbar Ali is one of Pakistan’s most promising young vocalists- he is one of the few, rare vocalists who can sing in more than fifty ‘taals’! Immensely popular with discerning International & National audiences, he has performed- amongst numerous others-on the well-known and extremely popular platform of ‘Coke Studio’.

Bari Imam (Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi) was a 17th-century Sufi ascetic from Punjab who was the most prominent Sufi of the Qadiriyya order. He learned fiqh, hadith, logic, mathematics, medicine, and other disciplines while very young, and traveled to different places including Kashmir, Badakhshan, Bukhara, Mashhad, Baghdad, and Damascus in pursuit of spiritual knowledge. Loh-e-Dandi was his meditation spot in the mountains.

We will ride to the Nur Pur Shahan Village aka Bari Imam and then towards Loh-e-Dandi. (The road consists of road and off-road patches so we would prefer mountain bikes). We will ride up to a point where cycles can reach, and then to get to Loh-e-Dandi we will have to hike up a bit. Your choice !

Angela Fisher in her fascinating book 'Africa Adorned' writes:

"For the peoples of Africa, beads of precious metals,bronze,brass,glass,bone,shell and clay play an important role in the adornment of the body and home. In addition, glass beads,brought from Persia and China by Arab traders,and later from Europe by the Portuguese,were widely used as a form of barter...'

Rehana Fazli -during her stay in Africa and travels around the globe as a Diplomat's wife- developed a passion for beads.

Calling her amazing collection "TAAZLI": The Table Jewellery, the creative and talented entrpreneur will share her expertise and interpertation of 'Africa Adorned'.

Self drive/ car pooling

Foreigners: The area is just outside the Islamabad boundary so NOC is not required-but best to check and confirm with your agencies!

Winter is here and it's the best time to enjoy long walks in the Hills. This time we are taking you to explore a beautiful valley in the Margallas. It is near Sangada (3 km from PirSohawa).

We will split into two groups.

Group 1: We will explore a little further into the valley and turn back. This is an easy hike which can be done by anyone.

Group 2: The climbing part which is a little tougher. We will climb up to Makhniyal and return via the road or trail back to the start point.

Wear sturdy shoes and bring refreshments

Museums are repositories of a nations’ heritage and serve as show-windows of their cultural heirlooms spread over centuries...

Did you know we have a gem of a museum in Islamabad?

The Islamabad Museum, established by the Department of Archeology and Museum, is located in the Sir Syed Memorial Building and displays the the Heritage of Pakistan- its pre-history, the Indus Civilization, the Iron Age, the Gandhara Civilization, the Hindu Shahi Period and the Islamic Period.There are plans to add segments on the Pakistan Movement depicting the period 1857 to 1947, as well as on Islamic Art & Culture. The oldest artifact in the Museum is a hand axe discovered in Rawat 30 kilometers from Islamabad, aged 2 million years!

The Government of South Korea has generously offered to construct a Virtual Reality Cinema also within the museum premises in the next few months!

Programme

6:00PM: Meet and Greet

6:20- 7:00PM: The Gandhara Civilization and Pakistan as a pilgrimage destination-Introduction & documentary

7:00 pm onwards:

• Exploring the Islamabad Museum: Dr. Abdul Ghafoor.
• You will also have the opportunity to visit an art exhibition: Everything is Going Upside Down- curated by Mr. Usman Ahmed- a group show celebrating an unwavering optimism exhibited by emerging artists, who employ humor and art as their tools to navigate adversity!