Traditional straw items, Sehwan Sharif

Traditional straw items, Sehwan Sharif
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

I really like these traditional items made in various parts of Sindh province. In this case they are the daily use items like plates, covers, tops, decorative pieces for walls, etc. They are earthly, which means they are environment friendly; they are made from hand thus employing lots of females in the process; and they are cultural icons for Sindh, just like blue tiles from Hala or ajrak from central Sindh are.

[Image available for sale from Getty:
http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?assettype=image&family=creative&artist=Ameer+Hamza]

Mehndi / Henna

Mehndi / Henna
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Via Flickr:
The mehndi applied for weddings is very different from those applied for religious or social festivals like Eids or parties, etc. The wedding mehndi, besides being very expensive (b/w USD 50 - USD 300 +), is also very detailed and may easily consume over 3-4 hours of intense concentration. Even more.

Sweets for Prophet's Birthday: Baklava, Karachi

Sweets for Prophet's Birthday: Baklava, Karachi
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Via Flickr:
Gifted to my father today by Pak Fan company, Pakistan, for the upcoming Birthday of our Beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad-e-Mustafa (salahu alihi wasalam), which will appear this Sunday (5th Feb, 2012). According to Sunni Muslims, Birthday of Prophet is 12th Rabi-ul-Awal Sharif, which is the 3rd month of Islamic lunar calender.

In Pakistan and across the world where Muslims reside Birthday is celebrated with recitation of Naats (hyms in praise of Prophet) and Quran Sharif (Holy Book of Islam and Word of ALLAH).