The Evolution of Gilgit Baltistan Dress, From Necessity to Culture: The primary purpose of the clothing was to protect people from extreme weather conditions and other harsh environmental elements. Ancient humans were covering their bodies with leaves, animal skin, fur and other materials. Reasons for wearing clothing changed over time. People started to wear cloths for decoration, tribal affiliation, and symbol of profession or rank.

Archeological Research has discovered that weaving had started around 27 thousand years back. Traditional and cultural dresses provide important information and knowledge about the cultural and historical heritage of a society. Traditional dresses or clothing are influenced by geographical, religious, economical and moral factors.

Exploring Gilgit-Baltistan Dress Origins

Gilgit Baltistan has a diverse cultural heritage. Because of the geographic location the region traditional dress of Gilgit Baltistan has some link to the traditional dresses of central Asia, China, Iran and Turkey. With passage of time and new geographical linkage the traditional dress also gradually changed.

Wearing a traditional dress is one way to show our real appreciation for our culture and to represent human diversity. By dressing in traditional clothing we can show our interest to preserve the cultural heritage and understand the life style of our ancestors.

Components of Gilgit Baltistan Attire

Trousers or shalwar (phirwal, tumboon, Chanalay)

The name shalwar is derived from the Turkish word salvar for trouser. This was later adopted in Urdu and other local languages. The Traditional shalwar of Gilgit Baltistan is very similar to Turkish salvar. It is loose, long, baggy trouser. Traditionally, silk, cotton and velvet fabric was used.

The trousers are loose but narrow and fitted around the ankles and shins. The narrow ankle part of the trousers were sometimes tucked into colorful traditional hand knitted socks. The shalwar was best designed according to local needs. Traditionally horses were used to travel from one place to others.

The loose trousers were comfortable to ride on saddle horseback. The narrow part around the ankle would protect against the cold air. And the loose upper part was perfectly comfortable to ride. In addition this dress was also suitable for working in fields and sitting in traditional way in home. The loose part makes it easy for the wearer to bend while working and sitting on the floor.

Kameez  (kurtani , peeran, Cheelo)

Kameez or tunic is the upper part dress. Traditional kameez is loose fitted and heel long. The collar of the kamiz was high and was designed as a modern day man’s shirt collar. The Islamic tradition of covering the full body is fulfilled by this design. For bridal dresses colorful embroidered bands were stitched around collars and the lower end of the shirt and sleeves. A small pocket was attached in front or sides of kammeez. A fabric with floral pattern is used for kameez and plain fabric is used for trouser.

Dopata or shawll  (phatek, cheel)

Dopata or shawl is an integral part of the traditional ladies dress. Different color of dopata is used. Young ladies wear bright colors while elder ladies prefer dark colors.

Completing the Look: Traditional Cap in Gilgit Baltistan Dress

The most elegant part of the women dress of Gilgit-Baltistan is the traditional cap. Various types of caps are used. The most popular cap is the beautiful embroidered Iraghi cap with traditional piece of jewel called silsila. Many other types of caps are used in various regions. Please refer to my article my cap my pride published in The Karakoram. Over time the local dress has changed considerably. 

The reasons for these changes are inevitable. Modernization, globalizations, regional and global influences are the main reasons for these changes. On one hand this change is very important to keep ourselves update with modern world at the same time it is also important to keep our cultural heritage alive. We can keep these traditions alive by giving them a modern touch but preserving the actual tradition.

Energy-Efficient and Multi-Purpose Traditional Houses Gilgit-Baltistan

The mountainous region of Gilgit Baltistan is incredibly rich in diverse cultural heritage and traditional houses are one of them.  This cultural heritage of the region manifests itself in its traditions, music, handicrafts, architecture, and the famous free style polo of the region. Because of diverse ethnic backgrounds there is cultural diversity among different region but over all the cultural heritage of Gilgit Baltistan is unique, natural and simple. The traditional house Gilgit Baltistan (ha, door, khoun or go’at) is a very important symbol of this cultural heritage. For some one with an untrained eye, the traditional house is just a very basic structure. On the other hand if someone critically analyzes the design keeping in view the climatic conditions, local traditions and limited recourses in past, this simple structure is reflection of thousands years of wisdom.

Traditional House of Gojal, Hunza, Nager, Gilgit and Ghizer

The history of traditional houses of Gilgit Baltistan (Khoun, Ha, Go’at, Door) is two thousands old.

According to history, the traditional house was designed around 2000 years back in the era of Legendary Aryan king Jamshid.  In order to protect his people from extreme cold conditions architects of king Jamshid   designed a simple, earthquake proof, multipurpose self-contained and self-sustained house. Even after thousands of years this design is still functional and very useful.  Similar houses are still found in the pamir region and parts of Tajikistan and Badakhshan and other parts of central Asia. No modern architecture design can replace the traditional houses of Gilgit Baltistan to full fill the local needs and traditions.  There are slight differences in the design in different regions but the basic concept and structure is same.

The Walls and outside

The out side is very simple. The walls of old house are built with stone and mud. The walls are very wide and thick as compared to the modern houses. The wide walls provide good insulation both against hot and cold. Usually there is a small courtyard outside the house. A veranda covers the front side of the house.  In old houses there are no windows on the outer wall, instead there is a beautifully designed square skylight called (sagam, som,sum, komal, eyechan)in different regional langauges . This opening acts as a window for light and air, and exhaust for the smoke.  Because the opening lies horizontally and there is layer of warm air below the opening, cold air hardly reaches inside the house. The warm air from inside pushes the cold air up and out. This design is very much according to the rules of physics, as we know warm air is lighter and tends to move upwards. This design is extremely energy efficient.

In some old traditional houses once you enter the main door there is a small lobby, used for sitting, eating or sleeping in summer. This small lobby is called Dahlanz. From dahlanz a door leads to the main room.

Entrance

The main entrance door has a symbolic importance.  The house itself is the symbol of universe. A door is the entry to the house as well exit from the house. The door separates two distinct areas, inside the door there is safety, security and blessing. Out side the door there is open world, opportunities, dangers and risks. When a new member of the family (a bride or a new baby) enters the door he/she is welcomed with prayers for good luck, good health and blessings. Similarly when a family member goes on a journey or goes out to start something new he /she goes out through the door with the prayers of his parents for his safety and success. In the ancient houses, the traditional lock ( Naghli, Sarikuch, chayeish) was made of a wooden bar, which could lock the door both from inside and out side.

The doors of traditional houses of Gilgit Baltistan are relatively shorter to preserve heat. Woodcarving is found on the doors of the old houses.

Pillars

The structure of traditional house basically stands on four main wooden pillars plus one to three additional small pillars. These pillars are made of juniper, apricot, walnut or other locally available wood. These pillars are often covered by geometric patterned woodcarvings. The traditional geometric designs on these pillars are inherited over centuries.  Because of its unique wooden frame the house is earthquake resistant. If even the walls were peeled outward during an earth quack the frame would remain standing, protecting the main structure.

Roof

The roof is made of several groups of wooden beams of different sizes. Each group has their specific sizes and specific names and number. The two longest beams (laid over the two main pillars on each side are called sanjeer in some areas. Three to four thick but short beams ( patari)are laid diagonally on the main long beams. The skylight or the open space in center of the roof is designed with four square layers of small beams laid one above other. The squares are diagonally placed and the size of squares gradually decreases as it rises up towards the final opening. The opening is located exactly above the fireplace. Because of this shape of the roof snow does not stay longer on the rooftop and there is less chances of leakage during rainy season.

Floor Plan of Traditional houses in Gilgit-Baltisan

Every single area inside the main room has a specific name. If you name a specific part of the house, a local will know exactly what are you referring to. There are slight variations in the design in different regions but overall it is more or less similar.

The floor is divided into different parts, There are raised platforms of different heights. Every platform has different purpose and use. The first part immediately after entrance is the (Haqai, yourch, shom ). It is used for keeping shoes and preparing fire wood and dancing during traditional ceremonies like weddings. In most of incient houses, a wood beam, called, sanj separate the working area from the sitting area.

Traditional House Fireplace and Sitting Area in Gilgit Baltistan

The next is the sitting area. In the center there is fire place ( dildang, Daang, sagam ) . Fireplace is used for cooking and keeping the room warm. Sitting area on right side is called band. The sittiing  area is a square area around the fire place. The Males members sit on the right side. Sitting arrangement is in specific order. The guest, elderly or religious leaders people get the priority to sit.  These most respected people sits fist than the young one sit and than the children sit.  Female sit on the left. Similar hierarchy rule is also followed on the female side of the sitting area. Two elevated platforms on right and left (Sheeti, mun, nukh ,raj  thali) were used for relaxing or sleeping during winter. There is narrow platform for with wooden cabinets for pots and pans. Two half height walls or wooden cabinets separates the right and left elevated platform. These walls are called Chardagez or Mandal . The floor is usually made of wood or mud. Floors are covered with thick locally made carpets. Concrete floor does not suite the climatic conditions and local life style. It cannot maintain the warm temperature and can cause joint pain in cold climate.

Storage room (Ulha, Gonj, gonji, Ghanz)

 A smaller store room is usually attached to the main traditional home. The basic structure as more or less same like the main room but it is usually less sophisticated. The main purpose of this is to store grain, fruits and other food items, but during wedding and other ceremonies it was used for sitting and cooking also. This room also has four pillars and the structure of the roof is similar to the main room. There is area for fireplace in the center.

The main room and storage room are the basic requirements of the traditional home Gilgit Baltistan. Additional rooms are added according to the requirement and socioeconomic conditions.

Traditional houses in Baltistan

The old houses in various mountainous regions of Baltistan are designed  according to local requirements and traditions..  There is Tibetan and Kashmiri influence in the architecture of this region. Old houses in mountainous villages of Baltistan are built in two levels. The lower level is for storage or animal pen. The living area is built in the upper level comprises of large kitchen, bed room, living room etc. The numbers of rooms depends on various factors, like socioeconomic factor, number of family members etc. Wood, stone, and mud are used to build these houses. Large wood columns and beams are used to make the house earthquake proof. Kashmiri style wood carving is found in these old traditional houses.

In summary, the design of traditional houses of Gilgit Baltistan is very efficient and multipurpose to fulfill the traditional and climatic requirements of the area. This tradition has been passed on to us over centuries.  Now it is the duty of this generation not to completely abandon this tradition.  These designs can be innovated and updated according to the needs of modern times.

When it comes to traditional foods, Gilgit-Baltistan is a treasure trove of delicious and healthy options. One of the most beloved foods in the region is Quroot, a probiotic food that is rich in vitamin A, calcium, and vitamin E. Not only is Quroot a staple in the diet of Gilgit-Baltistan, but it is also widely enjoyed in Central Asian countries such as Afghanistan and Iran. As the winter months roll in, Quroot becomes an essential part of the local diet, providing warmth and nourishment to the body.

But Quroot isn’t just any ordinary food. Its history can be traced back centuries, with evidence of its use in Central Asia and the Himalayan region dating as far back as the 13th century. The traditional method of making Quroot involves separating butter from buttermilk, allowing the buttermilk to sour for a few days, and then boiling it until it thickens. The resulting product is shaped and dried in the sun, and it can be consumed raw or used as a sauce.

When it comes to Quroot dishes, the options are endless. Here are a few of the most popular and delicious dishes that feature Quroot:

Local Sauce:

This dish is a crowd-pleaser and is made by mixing Quroot, chopped onion, bread pieces, water, and buttermilk. The ingredients are mixed together and heated until the sauce is ready to be served. It can be served with rice, bread, or as a dip.

Molidah:

Molidah is a hearty and comforting dish that is made by crushing hard Quroot and bringing it to a liquid form. Chopped onions, bread pieces, and water are added to the mixture and heated until it is ready to be served in bowls. It can be enjoyed as a meal or as a side dish.

Quroot Dawdoo:

Dawdoo is a famous winter soup that is brimming with the cheers of winter. It is made by adding Quroot in the form of powder or in small pieces to a soup made with dough, large bread cut into a long shape/noodle shape, oil, browned onion, garlic and ginger paste, tomatoes (mostly dried), spices (cumin, turmeric powder, red chili powder, hot spices, chopped green chili), and boneless boiled chopped mutton, beef, or chicken. The soup is then boiled until it is ready, and mint and coriander leaves are added before serving. It’s a perfect warm meal for cold winter nights.

Aside from its delicious taste, Quroot also boasts a number of health benefits. It has been known to improve digestion, lower blood pressure, and act as a blood thinner. It is also used to treat back and leg pain, and as a remedy for sunburn. Additionally, Quroot can be used to remove rust from utensils.

Quroot is not only a vital part of the local diet, but it also holds cultural significance in Gilgit-Baltistan. It is a traditional food that is consumed during celebrations and rituals, and is a symbol of the region’s rich food culture. The production and consumption of Quroot also has a positive impact on the local economy, providing income for farmers and other individuals involved in its production.

If you’re looking to explore the delicious and nutritious world of Quroot, Gilgit-Baltistan is the place to be. Whether you’re a foodie, a health enthusiast, or simply looking for a new culinary experience, Quroot is sure to delight your taste buds and leave you feeling nourished and satisfied.