In a time when news emanating from Pakistan look depressing, this photo may rekindle a new hope for the future. Decorative face painting is a common practise in Northern Areas of Pakistan. Photo credits belong to Kamran Safdar.
Dear Readers,
While All Things Pakistan has remained alive and online, it has been dormant since June 11, 2011 - when, on the blog's 5th anniversary, we decided that it was time to move on. We have been heartened by your messages and the fact that a steady traffic has continued to enjoy the archived content on ATP. While the blog itself will remain dormant, we are now beginning to add occasional (but infrequent) new material by the original authors of the blog, mostly to archive what they may now publish elsewhere. We will also be updating older posts to make sure that new readers who stumble onto this site still find it useful.
We hope you will continue to find ATP a useful venue to reflect upon and express your Pakistaniat. - Editors
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I’m sorry but I think the face-painting looks scary.
Amir Khan Gilgit,
Why do they paint children faces like this; to prevent some evil eye or just to make them look cool?
Noor Muhammad,
Northern areas should have governments under central control so we can get rid of FATA appointed candidates monopoly. Tourism industry can create jobs so locals can have decent lives. All in all those extremists need to behave so we can all live in peace and harmony.
Thanks to our priorities; dirty clothes on kids are very common sight in all over Pakistan. Infant mortality rate (http://tinyurl.com/24s4d7) is one of the highest in Pakistan. We are at rank 33 and above 32 almost all are war ridden countries.
Isn’t it ironic that we could not look beyond the face painting!! Ins’t it finding delight in disgust? The layers of dirt that are so visible on the collar of the children were too self explanatory.
These ill fated children will never be able to vote for their leaders in Pakistan. They will never be called Pakistanis. They will either be titled “Kashmiri” or “Kashmiri Muhajir”. Their entire Northern Light Infentary was called the “cult of Kashmiri Mujahidins”.
The Pakistani brethern are too busy painting faces and dont’ bother to look beyond the cosmetic layers.
Thanks for sharing the oicture from Gilgit. I belong to Gilgit. I would like to further explain the painting on the face of child. Basically thid painting called ‘pooru’ in local in one of the local languages. First the hone ‘sing’ of sheep is burned a bit then it is rubed with stone adding some water. It becomes like a redish thik liquide. Then it is applied on the face. It is very common in Gilgit Baltistan.
Nice picture. Pictures of children cannot fail to bring a smile to one’s face. Is this practice of face painting common amongst all communities of the Northern Areas or is it only done by certain communities?