Karachi Local Custom Tips by besal Top 5 Page for this destination

Hindu Culture

A rich legacy shared with India, Karachi has several Hindu temples around the city. The profile of these temples is kept low mainly due to the hostility amongst the two rivals. Several of these temples are now in a depleted state, requiring urgent need for someone to restore/conserve.

One of the most visible is situated under the Netty Jetty bridge, which fortunately has been saved by various civic actions by people who want to preserve our rich heritage. This is also a temple used mainly for cremations by Hindu citizens who can not afford to take the remains to River Ganga in India.

The province of Sindh (where Karachi is also located) has the most population of Hindus, mainly in the interior and Tharparkar region, close to Indian border.

Feed God's creatures to annul your sins

Native jetty, also called Netty Jetty, is a bridge near Kemari, which has been for ages a site where people from various backgrounds come and feed the fishes and birds, and also to commit suicide.

This tradition to feed God's creatures is quite old. I asked various people as to what it entails and never got a good answer. The summary is that people come here to feed the creatures if they want something in return (from God); or to wash away their sins.

It is a carnival scene on the bridge, especially on holidays as there will be thousands of people lining the rail and feeding the fishes and the birds. You can bring your own stuff to feed, or buy from vendors sitting there. Or overlook, on one side the dwindling mangroves, and on the other side the busy harbour.

Only in Karachi can someone think of this

The town municipal administration of Saddar Town has handed over a mobile toilet to concerned authorities for facilitating beachgoers. The natural beauty of beaches was being affected due to lack of cleanliness and increasing pollution. In this regard, Karachi government has said the citizens will have to play due role, so that beachgoers can be provided a healthy and hygienic atmosphere.

The provision of a model mobile toilet for the beach area was a welcome step, that such mobile toilets would also be provided to Keamari and Bin Qasim towns.

The chief secretary congratulated the nazim Saddar Town and his team for their creative initiative regarding the mobile toilet.

The mobile toilet has separate chambers for males/females.

Website: http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/21/local22.htm

Knife Sharpener

While in Karachi, if you get the urge, you need to sharpen your knife, the old fashion way.

With advent of self sharpening knives, and accessories, this ancient and traditional trait is dying fast. Hardly ever in the main city, one may see a man carrying behind him a wooden frame with implements to sharpen your house ware knives. The knife sharpener will charge Rs. 5 per knife.