Baloch Culture Day Date in the current year: March 2, 2024

The Baloch consider themselves the descendants of Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib, a foster brother and paternal uncle of the Prophet Muhammad. According to Baloch lore, their ancestors hail from what is now the Syrian city of Aleppo. However, this version of their origin isn’t supported by historical facts. Most researchers consider them to be the descendants of the Parthians and the Medes, who migrated to the Balochistan region over several centuries and converted to Islam.

The region of Balochistan comprises the present-day Pakistani province of Balochistan, the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, and the southern provinces of Afghanistan. The Baloch mainly speak the Balochi language, which belongs to the Iranian language branch, and practice Sunni Islam.

The social organization of the Baloch people is based on blood kinship. There are numerous Baloch clans, each descending from a common ancestor. Clans group together to make up tribes. The social ties between members of a clan/tribe are usually very strong; at the same time, there is some competition between different Baloch tribes. Because of it, the Baloch haven’t been able to create a nation state, despite having a nationalist movement.

The Baloch have a unique culture that includes music, dances, signing, traditional clothes and jewelry, cuisine, sports and games, and more. Today, dancing is mostly reserved for men, although women also dance in their own circle on certain occasions. In the pre-Islamic era, however, it was very common for women to perform traditional dances at various events.

Traditional clothes (for example, male turbans) and jewelry also play a big role in Baloch culture. It is common for women to wear gold necklaces and bracelets. Heavy earrings with gold chains named dorr are one of the most popular jewelry items among Baloch women. Another traditional accessory is tasni, a gold brooch used the two parts of the traditional dress together over the chest.

The most famous dish of Balochi cuisine is sajji. It consists of a whole chicken or lamb roasted on a skewer over coals. Sajji is usually seasoned with just salt; however, it may be sometimes covered with green papaya paste and stuffed with rice. Other popular Balochi dishes include kaak (hard flatbread baked in a clay oven) and dum pukht (meat and vegetables cooked over a low flame).

To celebrate their rich culture and pass it on to future generations, the Baloch celebrate Baloch Culture Day on March 2. On the occasion of the holiday, colorful cultural events are held across the Balochistan region, featuring traditional music, dances, craft fairs, food stalls, exhibitions, poetry readings, etc. The biggest celebrations usually take place in the Pakistani province of Balochistan.