سوات میں مختلف مذاہب والوں کےتجہیزوتکفین کے رسومات:ایک تجزیاتی مطالعہ

The Burial Customs of Different Religions in Swat: An Analytical Study

Abstract

The Swat region is considered as a rich cultural and multi civilizational region. It has its ancient history as evident from the historical remains dotting the whole region. Before the arrival of Islam and particularly before the conquest of Mahamud of Ghazna, there were two major religions in this area the Hinduism and Buddhism. Thereafter when the religion of Islam spread in the region and Muslims also took the political power here the local customs were influenced and marked by these new developments. The Islamic culture deemed to have a dominant position still every civilization and religion has its own utility. Though the customs and traditions grounded in other religions became less prevalent due to decrease in their numbers but it is interesting to note the common practices that can be seen from comparative religious perspective. Especially the burial customs of all these major religions in this area have some common features. Thus one finds it interesting to observe some common customs regarding the deceased i.e. offering charity and recitation of the Holy Scriptures by Muslims, Hindus, Christains and Sikhs. This article describes in detail the burial systems of all the communities in District swat.