Mahraka.com represents the Culture of Chitral. Chitral is a mountainious region in the North of Pakistan, presenting a mosaic of cultures, languages and religions. Ethnic groups like Khows, Kalash, Palula, and dozens of other make, what is called the Chitrali Qaum. On the other hand, Chitrali Culture has spilled over the boundaries of Chitral into the surrounding valleys, making many of these part of the Chitrali Cultural Area. Chitral has its long history as a princely state, preserving the independence for many centuries. Pages of this site will contain quality articles and other materials, on the culture, history, languages and literature of Chitral.
Beside new works on Chitral,the Site will also make available, rare books and documents on Chitral, and works of eminent Chitrali writers, for reading and download.
For the promotion of Khowar language, pages containing Khowar material will be part of the site. Khowar pages will be constructed in the recently developed Khowar Unicode, bringing Khowar to the age of computers and the web.
Why the name 'Mahraka'?
Mahraka Tradition is one of the main elements of Chitrali Culture. Its concept is related to gathering of a group of people, with a ruler, a religious figure or a community elder, as its head. Age and wisdom are the only qualifications necessary for entrance to such gatherings. Topics and quality of discussions in these gatherings are always of a very high standard. The institution of Mahraka plays very prominent role in the decision making, formation of public opinion and the dissemination of indigenous wisdom and culture. The socio-economic changes in our society are making it very difficult to preserve established norms and practices of our society. Institutions like 'Mahraka' seem to bear little or no relevancy to our present day social structure.
This website is an effort to re-introduces the tradition of 'Mahraka' in a somewhat different way. It will provide a forum for all those interested in the culture, history and languages of Chitral. you are welcome to visit this site, share ideas, and contribute something to it.
MESSAGES
Dear editors,
by chance I came across your internet site.
This is a wonderful effort and great achievement!
Wish you strength, endurance and success on your further steps.
Yours sincerely
Wolfgang Holzwarth
Orientalisches Institut
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenber
Germany
It was really a pleasant surprise to visit Mahraka.com today.I do congratulate your team for the good work.It is very interesting and informative. I fear, I shall be one of edicts.in the days to come.
Please convey to Prof Murad Ali my appreciation for the creative translation of Khowar poetry.
With best wishes and warm regards
Dr.Inayatullah Faizi (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz)
Chitral, Pakistan
I was pleasantly surprised today to find your website on Chitrali history. I research the history of Badakhshan and Sarikol and Chitral comes up a lot in my work. Please continue adding items to your website!...Your website is a great resource and anything you can add would be useful to scholars around the world. I was especially pleased to see materials from the Hidayat ur Rahman Historical Archives in Chitral on your site, as it would be incredibly difficult for me to travel there.
Best Regards,
David Straub
Indiana University,USA
