CULTURE OF CHAKWAL

Dress
Men, Women and Children of Chakwal wear very simple dress. Men generally wear shalwar Kumeez or Dhoti Kurta, a turban on special occasion, with Chappals, Khusas or Sandles . In the winter months they add a coat, sweater or a Dhussa with it. The more educated class also wear shirts with trousers, adding a coat in the winters. Young boys can be seen wearing jeans and shirts occasionally. Women almost invariably wear Shalwar Kameez with Dopatta, and a woolen Shawl or Sweater in the winter. Sarhis or western dresses are never worn. Footwear consists of Chappals or Sandals. On occasions of festivity the Kameez and Dopatta are heavily embroidered. Ornaments of gold and silver are also worn depending on the occasion and the financial position. 
Customs and Traditions
The culture of Chakwal is primarily based on the way of living as taught in Islam; but owing to the fact that Chakwal before independence was an area where a large number of Hindus lived, it is influenced by Hindu rites, rituals and even ideas. The ceremonies of mayun and mehndi, the extravagant expenditures made on feasting guests at death, the hosting of a lavish meal by the bride’s parents on the barat, large dowries for brides, the belief that parents must not stay in the houses of their married daughters, and melas at the mausoleums of pirs are all of Hindu origin. Besides this, the people of Chakwal live a simple and straight life as enjoined by their religion.
Agriculture
Farming is the main occupation of the people of Chakwal. With the exception of a few large landholders in subdivision Talagang, Holdings are small in the district and farming is conventional, though new techniques and the Barani Agricultural Institute Chakwal is introducing methods. The farmers have also begun to use fertilizer and pesticides; and capital intensive, time saving inputs like tractors and harvesters, are being used eversince their introduction in the country. The total area of the district is 1652443 acres, and the total cultivated area is 786212 acres. The main crops of the district are: Wheat, Peanut, Bajra, Grams, Masoor, Mash, Maize, Jawar, Vegetables Fruit orchards, especially of citrus, have also been planted by farmers but only on small areas owing to shortage of water. Fair sized Loquat orchards exist in Kallar Kahar and Choa Saiden Shah.
SHRINES
Chakwal has been frequented by a number of saints who came here to spread Islam. Mausoleums and shrines of these holy men were built after their death by the followers. The more important of these shrines are: 
Chillagaah, Hazrat Sultan Bahu, Kallar Kahar.
Darbar, Hazrat Ahoo Bahoo, Kallar Kahar
Darbar, Sakhi Saidan Shah Shirazi, Choa Saidan Shah
Chillagaah, Hazrat Baba Farid Gunj Shakar, Kallar Kahar
Darbar Pattalian
Darbar Alawal Sharif
Darbar Pir Waliat Shah, Karsal
Darbar Pir Khara Sharif
SWEETS
Chakwal is renowned for its special PEHLWAN REWRI. At Eid and other celebrations Halwa has a special importance.

AANSOO LAKE

The lake in the Katas Raj Temple complex is the setting for many stories about the Pandavas in Maha Bharat. During their exile, the Pandava brothers came upon the lake and were about to drink from the water when a Yaksha (protecting spirit of the lake) appeared and said that only people who correctly answered his questions could drink from the lake. The four Pandavas failed the test and were killed by the Yaksha. However the fifth brother, Yudhishtar, used mystical knowledge to answer the questions and brought his brothers back to life. The lake is still said to have magical powers. The Etymology of this place as narrated in the old edition of "Tarikh-e-Jhelum" is that according to Brahaman's belief, Shiv Devta wept so profusely on the death of his beloved wife Satti that two holy pounds one at Pushkar of Ajmair and other at Katak shell came into being with his tears. In Sanskrit, the word "Katak shell" means chain of tears that later on was pronounced "Katas".

Shaikh Muhammad Akram Awan

Shaikh Muhammad Akram Awan was born on 31 December 1934 in the village of Noorpur Sethi, about 4 km form the present headquarters of the Order, Dar-ul-Irfann Munara. He received his initial education in his village school and later entered the college at Chakwal. He spent a turbulent youth characterized by family feuds and external skirmishes. Duly dismayed by the violence and tumult, he set out in search of peace and truth. His sincere resolve was answered at the age of 24, when he met Shaikh Allah yar Khan at a gathering. He worked in close association with his Shaikh, marked by unmatched sincerity and devotion, for twenty-five years. Shaikh Allah Yar Khan transformed the unbridled youth into a Sufi saint of high eminence, infusing deep vision and spiritual blessings into the heart of his promising student.
Shaikh Muhammad Akram Awan did not receive formal education at any religious institution. He acquired the basic Knowledge of Islamic teachings directly form his Shaikh. Blessed with llm-al-ladunni (Knowledge form the Divine presence,) he has special insight in Tafsir (interpretation of the Holy Quran). He used to deliver regular lectures on Quranic teachings during the life of his Shaikh and embarked upon writing a Tafsir of the Quran, entitled Asrar-at-Tanzil, soon after his Shaikh’s death. This was in fulfillment of Shaikh Allah Yar Khan’s desire, for he could not undertake this work himself due to the enormous demands of his mission. Because of its deep spiritual insight, Shaikh Mohammad Akram’s Asrar-at-Tanzil has received wide acclaim and recognition form all schools of Islamic thought, both in Pakistan and abroad.
He is dean of the Siqarah Education System, a unique System which integrates the teachings of with education at both secondary and college levels and strives to transform its young students into enlightened, practical Muslims.
He is the Patron-in Chief of Al-Murshid, a monthly magazine of the Order in Urdu. He regularly writes for the Magazine to provide guidance for seekers on the spiritual heritage of Muslim ummah.
He is also the Patron-in Chief of Al Falah Foundation an organization established in 1989 for the welfare of the people, especially the poor, in Pakistan’s rural areas.
His sole mission in life is to create in Muslims awareness of their spiritual heritage and to carry the prophetic lights and blessings to every comer of the globe for the guidance of mankind as a whole. He is an ardent advocate and supporter of Muslim causes and is committed to Islamic renewal along the lines of Khair ul-Quroon (the best period in human history form 13 B.H. to 325 A.H.)

KATAS TEMPLES

The Hindu sacred place “Katas” is located in the salt range at a distance of 18 miles in the south of Chakwal. The mention of Katas is found in “Maha Bharat” which was written in 300 BC. The etymology of this place as narrated in the old edition of “Tarikh-e-Jhelum” is that according to Brahaman’s belief, Shiv Devta wept so profusely on the death of his beloved wife Satti that two holy ponds one at Pushkar of Ajmair and other at Katak Shell came into being with his tears. In Sanskrit, the word “Katak Shell” means chain of tears, which later on was pronounced as “Katas”. According to Gen. Cunningham, Katas was considered the second largest holy place in Punjab for Hindu pilgrims after the Jawala Mukhi. It is said that famous Pando brothers spent 12 years in Katas and built the temples of Satghara.
It is said that Al-Bairuni also spent some period at Katas to learn Sanskrit in a linguistic university, which, at that time, was established here. During his stay at Katas and Nandana Fort, Al-Bairuni wrote a famous book “Kitab-ul-Hind” which depicted the religion, scientific knowledge, and social customs of Hindus. Al-Bairuni during his stay at Katas not only learned Sanskrit but also performed various geographic experiments and eventually succeeded in discovering the radius of the earth. The Pandavas, it is believed, constructed these temples. Efforts are being made to restore and renovate these temples. There are also cave-type structures near the temples that, it is believed, were used for meditation purposes. At a short distance from the temple, there is also the haveli of Hari Singh Nalwa, who used to be a General in the Army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The place is mentioned in Maha Bharat and according to Hindu religious belief; both Katas and the Paskar (Ajmer) are the eyes of Shiva. Paras Nath Jogi breathed his last here. Guru Nanak also visited Katas. It was the abode of contemplation for larger groups of mystics and Jogies. 
According to Gen Cunningham, Katas was considered the second largest holy place in Punjab for Hindu pilgrims after Jawala Mukhi. It is said famous Pando brothers spent 12 years in Katas and built the temples of Satghara. Temples at Katas have been transferred from the federal government to the Punjab Archaeology Department recently.

MALOT FORT

The location of the Malot fort is about 15 kilometers westward form Katas. Here, on a hilltop is the ancient fort, which was built around 980AD. It is said that over here the last Hindu Shahi Raja Mal embraced Islam. In days gone-by the town and fort of Malot covered and area of over 5square kilometers. Two Hindu temples, which are located here, are beautiful specimens of ancient Kashmir architecture.
The Malot temples, built of local red sand stones of salt range mountains, are located on the road leading to Malot village near Choi village. The road is linked with main Kallar Kahar road from where it turns from Karuli Chowk towards Malot via Pakistan cement factory and Choi village along with coalmines. It is 12 kilometers away from Kallar Kahar in the east. The Malot was also called Namrod and Ramrod. The name is after the King of MalDev or Malu. The Rajput history claims its name Malot from the word Malik-Kot, as they believed that the title of Malik was given to the one who accepted annexation to the Muslim King of Delhi although in reward the Malik enjoyed the autonomous status with full sovereignty in the assigned area. The Mughal King Baber’s travelogue “Tuzk-e-Babri” attests to the corollary of Malik-Kot, Mal-Kot and then Malot.
The Brahman Bali Hindus till 1947 looked after the two present temples. They frequently visited the Guru of Bali Hindus, Guru Tarlok Nath shrines. In the year 1527 Daulat khan the royal forces of Mughal king Babur, to surrender, forced Lodhi. Mahan Singh, father of Maharaja Ranjit singh, also built a small fort here at Malot in early 19th century.
Alexander Cunningham wrote in his report for the Archaeological Survey of India in 1872-3, "The only remains of any antiquity at Malot are a temple and gateway in the Kashmirian style of architecture. They are built of a coarse sandstone of various shades of ochreous red and yellow, and many parts have suffered severely from the action of the weather, the surface having altogether crumbled away...The temple is a square of 18 feet inside, with a vestibule or entrance porch on the east towards the gateway. The gateway is...a massive building...divided into two rooms...On each side of these rooms to the north and south there are highly decorated niches for the reception of statues, similar to those in the portico of the temple. These niches are covered by trefoil arches which spring from flat pilasters. Each capital supports a statue of a lion under a half trefoil canopy...The roof is entirely gone; but judging from the square shape of the building, I conclude that it must have been pyramidal, outside with flat panelled ceilings of overlapping stones."

Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum

Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), hails from rural areas of Chakwal district of Punjab province of Pakistan. The general, who entered internationally reputed and prestigious Pakistan Military Academy Kakul in May 1966 as a cadet, was commissioned in Pak Army Artillery in April 1968 and finally retired as a three star general in January 2004. Later he became chairman of Pakistan Steel Board from where he resigned under protest against a fraudulent privatization attempt of Pakistan’s largest integrated steel plant which was later cancelled by the full court bench consisting of 11 judges of the country’s Supreme Court. This vindicated the chairman’s stand that the said privatization was not transparent because of “Errors of Omission and Commission” as stated by the apex court in its historical decision. The general served the country in different capacities for 40 long years. He now leads a happy retired life and is Chairman of Bin Qutab Foundation which strives to restore hope of the down trodden and help the have-nots specially in the rural areas of Pakistan focusing on health care, education and development of individual skills.

Ghazi Mureed Hussein Shaheed

His name was Mureed Hussein. He was the only son of Numberdar, Chauhdry Abdullah, a dignified pious old man of Bhallah, Tehsil Chakwal. He was married at the age of 20 years. A few days after marriage, he was honored with the ziarat (seeing or meeting) of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wassallam) in dream. With this, a revolutionary change took place in his life.
  In 1935 he read a painful news in the daily “Zimindar” with the heading “Palol Ka Gadha” (Donkey of Palol) which was sufficient to annoy any rational human being what to say of a lover. The incident was that a hindu veterinary doctor, in charge of veterinary hospital Palol, District Gorganwàn dared to name the donkey of the hospital on the name of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wassallam). Every Muslim of India was irritated and flared up on this absurdness and rascality. The British government, observing the unrest and the agitation statements in newspapers, transferred the insolent wretched doctor from Gorganwàn district to village Narnaund of district Hisaar. This was certainly not the answer to the magnitude of the crime committed. This decision by the government further flared the muslim sentiments and Mureed Hussein was no exception. In no time the lover was on his way to Narnaund to wipe away the filth on the Prophet's name (Sallallaho Alaihe Wassallam).
  Dr. Raam Gopal was a robust person with commanding stature. The lean and weak lover proved that bodily well being was not all that was required. A single move of hand brought the ogre down to dust leaving a contented Mureed Hussein waiting for the police.
  A lawsuit was instituted against him in district Hasaar. Barrister Jalal-ud-Din Qureshi and other Muslim lawyers pleaded the case on behalf of Mureed Hussain without any fee. He could save himself easily taking the advantage of conventional flaws in the existing law and its interpretation in favor of the accused. However, the real lover of the messenger of Allah considered a false statement to save life against the spirit of love. Mureed Hussein clearly announced his act in front of the judges making it easy for them to wind up the case and award him the liberty he was looking for. He was awarded death punishment. Impressed by his true and real passions, a non-Muslim prisoner embraced Islam and Ghazi Mureed Hussain named him Ghulam Rasool.
  On the blessed Friday, 24 September 1937 at 09:00 am , Ghazi Mureed Hussain rode the gallows board smiling and sacrificed his life for the honor and grace of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wassallam), an act worth million of lives in succession. The persons on duty told his relations that Ghazi Mureed Hussain seemed to be very happy and contented. He was reciting Kalma and Darood Sharif (salutation prayer). When he was told to be quiet, he said, “I am performing my obligation, you perform your duty.” Therefore, the Ghazi met his creator embracing “Shahadat” while paying salutation and sending greetings to the Holy Prophet, (Sallallaho Alaihe Wassallam).