Bhit or Bhit Shah is a small town located in Matiari District, Sindh, Pakistan. The town is best known as the location of the shrine to the Sindhi Sufi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, who came to be called Bhittai on account of the town's name. Passing along the road that leaves Haala for Hyderabad, beyond the shrubs there are a solitary group of large white mounds, which form hills known as Bhit in Sindhi.
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, commonly known by the honorifics Lakhino Latif, Latif Ghot, Bhittai, and Bhit Jo Shah, was a Sindhi Sufi mystic and poet from Pakistan, widely considered to be the greatest poet of the Sindhi language.
Pakistani folklore encompasses the mythology, poetry, songs, dances and puppetry from Pakistan's various ethnic groups.
Shah Jo Risalo is a book of poems of the Sindhi Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. Shah Abdul Latif's poetry was transmitted orally during his lifetime and compiled after his death and designated as Shah Jo Risalo or Poetry of Shah.
Sassui Punnhun or Sassi Punnu is a traditional Sindhi–Punjabi tragic folktale. Set in Sindh and Makran, the tragedy follows the story of a faithful lover who endures many difficulties while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by rivals.
Sohni Mahiwal or Suhni Mehar is a traditional Punjabi–Sindhi folk tragedy. Set in central Sindh or northern Punjab, depending upon the version of the tragedy, the folktale depicts the separation of two lovers and their tragic demise.
Sindhi literature is the collection of oral and written literature in the Sindhi language in prose and poetry. The Sindhi language of the province of Sindh in Pakistan is considered one of the oldest languages of ancient India, and influenced the language of Indus Valley inhabitants. Sindhi literature has developed over a thousand years.
Noori Jam Tamachi is a folktale in the Sindhi folklore dating back to the 15th century.
Sindhi folk music is traditional folk music and singing from Sindh, which is sung and generally performed in 5 genres that originated in Sindh, the first genre "Bait" styles. The Bait style is vocal music in Sanhoon and Graham. Second style "Waee" instrumental music is performed in a variety of ways using a string instrument. Waee, also known as Kafi. Sindhi folk music was popularized by great Sindhi sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.
Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch was a Sindhi research scholar, historian, sindhologist, educationist, linguist and writer. He predominantly wrote in Sindhi, but also in Urdu, English, Persian and Arabic. He has been described as the "moving library" of the Pakistani province of Sindh.
Umar Bin Mohammad Daudpota was a Sindhi researcher, historian, linguist and scholar of the Indus Valley.
Umar Marvi, , is a Pakistani film adapted from a popular Sindhi folk tale, Umar Marvi, produced by Syed Hussain Ali Shah Fazlani, directed by Shaikh Hassan and starring Fazlani himself, Nighat Sultana, Noor Mohammed Charlie and Bibbo.
Sindhi folklore is a rich cultural tradition that has evolved in Sindh over centuries. The region is abundant in folklore, expressed in diverse forms and vibrant colors, ranging from the well-known tales of Watayo Faqir and the legend of Moriro to the epic poetry of Dodo Chanesar and the heroic story of Umar Marvi. Sindhi folklore stands out among the region's traditions, particularly with the love story of Sassui, who longs for her lover Punhu, a tale sung and cherished in every Sindhi house. Other notable stories include the legend of Umar Marui and the tale of Suhuni Mehar.
Sindhi folktales play an important part in the culture of the Sindhi people of southern Pakistan. Pakistan's Sindh province abounds in fairy-tales and folktales that form its folklore. Some of these folktales are particularly important for the development of higher literature in Sindhi, since they were to form the core of mystical tales of Sindh immortalized by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, and are generally known as Heroines of Shah.
Seven Queens is a name commonly used for referring to the seven female characters that appear in the poetry compilation Shah Jo Risalo of the Sindhi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. They include:
Sorath Rai Diyach is a romantic folktale in Sindhi and Gujarati folklore. The story also appears in Shah Jo Risalo and forms part of seven popular tragic romances from Sindh. The other six tales are Umar Marvi, Sassui Punnhun, Sohni Mehar, Lilan Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi and Momal Rano commonly known as the Seven Queens of Sindh, or the Seven heroines of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
Sufism in Sindh covers the tradition of Sufism in Sindh, which is reputed to be an area of mystics. Sindh is famous for the enormous number of saints and mystics who lived there and preached peace and brotherhood. According to popular legend, 125,000 of them are buried on Makli Hill near Thatta. There is an abundance of Sufi literature produced in Sindh throughout history.
Sufi Budhal Faqeer (1865–1939) was a Sufi saint and poet, and disciple of Hizbullah Shah Rashdi. Faqeer's poetry was collected by his disciples and published in a book called Risalo Budhal Faqeer. Much of what is known about his life is through Sufi tradition, and separating it from historical reality is difficult.
Latif Award is given by Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, government of Sindh to the best researchers and singers of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai who made extraordinary work in Arts and Research field related with mystic poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sindhi language and Sindhi music. This award is a highest cultural decoration given by Government of Sindh. The award is given on Urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai each year. Latif Award is a unique golden model of Tamboro, a stringed music instrument, which is said to be invented by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai himself.
Hotchand Molchand Gurbakhshani was an educationist and scholar, renowned for his annotated translation of the Sufi poetic compendium Shah Jo Risalo. He held the position of Principal at D.J. Sindh College Karachi and served as the first president of the Sindh Historical Society.
