What's Karachi's official animal? Why isn't Biryani officially honored as Karachi's most favorite dish - its culinary identity - it's OFFICIAL DISH? After the massive chopping of eucalyptus the tree, what's Karachi's officially representative tree now?
A string of biryani centers struck up the thought in my mind: Biryani is Karachi official food. And the animal...?
Here's a well-pondered list. Comment and pass on!
Karachi's Official Color: Black (Red is a close second)
Karachi's Official Food: Biryani
Karachi's Official Drink: Cha'ai [Tea] (Nestlé’s Pure Life is a close second)
Karachi's Official Fruit: Papaya
Karachi's Official Tree: Coconut Palm Tree (Eucalyptus has been found in Murree in viable numbers, according to my council of voters.)
Karachi's Official Transport: Minibus (Rickshaw is a close second)
Karachi's Official Bird: Hawk
Karachi's Official Animal: The Green Turtle
Karachi's Official Flower: Gladiolus
Karachi's Official Poet: Jamil ud-din Aali
Karachi's Official Painter: Sadequain
Karachi's Official Language: Minglish - that curious wanna-be, cosmo mingling of English & Urdu
Karachi's Official Dress: Jeans & T-shirt (Males); Shalwar Kameez - Pakistani, Arab, Indian variety (Females)
Karachi's Official Sport: Kir-kit (Cricket)
Karachi's Official Holiday: New Year's (Any strike day is a close second)
Karachi's Official Park: Nishtar Park? (Hill Park and Safari Park have lost their 'it' factor)
What do you think? Read and pass on to friends!
Note: This was first published a few minutes earlier at the fantastic indie news source PakPositive.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
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Ramla Ji you have put in a good effort in identifying the Official things of Karachi city and to a great extent i agree you!
ReplyDeleteKeep it up;)
Aj
Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteFood; try nihari or pizza maybe (just being a wise-ass... ;-) ) Fruit; you'll get stiff competition from mangos and bananas. Official tree: no such thing, try official botanical growth instead...algae. You'll find it on every street corner in Karachi and in many a household too. Official transport; I admire your powers of observation. :-) Official bird; hawk? Come on, when the heck did you ever see a HAWK in Karachi? (Bird-blind female...) Those are vultures, m'lady. Besides I think THAT honor belongs to crows, our black and gray-bellied kind. Official animal: turtles? :-) Cute...but I don't think so...try cows or strays (pooches)! Official flower...gladiolas...hmm, you do a deep injustice to the roses. Poet, painter...d-uh...sorry, not my bag, complete doofus. Language: I always thought that was MTV or VH-1...whatever they utter, we try to copy. Dress: can't contest that one. :-) Kir-kit...oh but most definitely! Holidays...are random. Hehe... :-)) And official park, Nishtar -- most distinguished choice, I am impressed. :-)
Cheerio.
It seems that the CROW (Kaga, as I prefer to call it) as Karachi's official bird is a viable candidate. From PakPositive, kikar has come forth as the candidate for the official tree. While I considered this choice rather seriously myself, I am thinking that mangroves are an imminently more suitable choice. They are the distinct ID of Karachi vs other PK cities - and they are threatened by extinction. Which makes them good poor heroes to be marked as the official tree. What say all?
ReplyDeletePizza mein apna-pan nahi. And Nihari was all over the Lahori food street! Nahhhh. Otherwise Javed & Sabir Nihari wallahs would dance if we make nihari the official food, nahi?? :)
ReplyDeleteWell it depends whether you cheer for the popular or the underdog! If you're rooting for the underdog then mangroves are fine. But if it is popularity you seek, I'd wager my stakes on the algae! {...grin...} Just kiddin'. You may also wanna consider the Eucalyptus. Sorry my Urdu is a bit rickety so I don't know what you'd call that in Urdu.
ReplyDeleteLikewise if you wanna choose the underdog then band-kababs, aalloo-cholays, gole-gapays are all viable candidates. For the popular think karhais, there are so many variants around these days. Black, white, chicken-handi -- what about haleem? (I had to stick pizza in there because I'm a pizza junkie.) And how about official "meethas". I think everyone has a sweet-tooth around here? Ras-malai? Gajar ka halwa? Kheer perhaps? Zarda?
Official restaurant? Hmm...Bar-B-Q Tonight, Students Biryani, S&P Village, Lal Qilla, and yes of course Javed and Sabri, although Zahid also has quite a following.
Go knock yourself out. :-)
Karachi's Official Color: Black (We're so fond of it that its all over the city esp in the air)
ReplyDeleteKarachi's Official Food: Biryani
Karachi's Official Drink: Pepsi (next generation)
Karachi's Official Fruit: Mangoes (I have yet to meet a person who doesnt like them)
Karachi's Official Tree: Coconut Palm Tree (so i presume)
Karachi's Official Transport: Cars (Every1 seems to have at least 2 in their house)
Karachi's Official Bird: Crows
Karachi's Official Animal: Dogs (they're all over the place)
Karachi's Official Flower: Roses (thats wat i mostly end up seeing)
Karachi's Official Poet: Im bad at this stuff!!!!!!!
Karachi's Official Painter: Furniture walas i say!!!!!!!!
Karachi's Official Language: Agree with Ramla!!!!! Minglish it is!!!!!!
Karachi's Official Dress: Jeans & any kinda shirt
Karachi's Official Sport: Cricket
Karachi's Official Holiday: Any day ending with a "y"
Karachi's Official Park: Wouldnt know :-\
Coconut palms (ahem...)? Don't think so...they're not THAT ubiquitious. (I still vote for the algae!) Official painters: furniture walas...not a bad suggestion. :-) And 2 cars in every house? Huh? Hey we're talking about Karachi here, not Daytona Beach or Beverly Hills!
ReplyDeletethanks for providing information.
ReplyDelete