Sang E Mah: Do you know the history of dotted chaddar wore by Zargona?

The first episode of the upcoming drama serial, Sang e Mah, has been aired in cinemas across Pakistan on January 7 and it started a debate on Swabi traditions and culture especially after the depiction of a dotted chaddar having a history.

Sania Saeed as Zargona wore a dotted chaddar called ‘Chail’ in a scene that has some historical significance in Swabi culture which is considered as a symbol of resistance and modesty.

Local intellectuals said that the traditional headgear is the symbol of Yousafzai’s bravery who had fought against the Sikh army at Shahmansoor, Swabi and achieved a historic victory during early 1800.

The women, at that time, used to cover the bodies of their martyrs with their white headgears on the war scene which stained them with red dots.

According to an article published in Dawn newspaper, a woman from Shamansoor village Safia Gul said that women preferred to use ‘Chail’ as a proud symbol of Yousafzai’s bravery and considered it their pride and identity.

First episode of Sang E Mah to be aired in cinemas across Pakistan

A young artist, Anwar Khan told the daily that the famous Swabi Chail highlighted a famous Pashtun legend through its colour and dot patterns. There were five different kinds of ‘Chail’ worn by Swabi women, including Surgulai (red-spotted), Turgulai (black spotted), Punjpir, Daal and Dwagiwal.

“The variation of colours and composition are very important as main features in its design. For instance, a circle and parallelogram can also be observed in ‘Chail’ in different areas of Swabi,” the artist stated.

“The red dots printed on Chail are an improvisation and commemoration of the bloodstains of the young and brave Pashtuns who had offered their lives and services for the well-being of Yousafzai community,” another artist from Swabi Afzal Sher said.

Prof Noorul Amin Yousafzai, a scholar, pointed out that the word ‘Chail’ literally meant ‘obstacle of bushes’ which signified that the headgear fully protected women’s dignity against any evil eye and would serve as an obstacle or shield rather.

A journalist from Peshawar, Mehmood Jan Babar wrote on Twitter, “I have been wondering for a long time what the red spots are on the white chaddar of Swabi women. Today, I come to know that the women of Swabi had covered their martyrs with white chaddars who had fought a war with the Sikh army during early 1800.”

بہت عرصے سے سوچتا تھا کہ صوابی #KP کی عورتوں کی سفید چادر پر سرخ داغ کس چیز کے ہیں آج معلوم ہوا کہ یہ ۱۸۰۰ میں صوابی والو کی سکھوں کے ساتھ جنگ میں جو زخمی ہوئے تھے انہیں خواتین نے اپنے سفید دوپٹوں میں ڈھانپا تھا اور آج تک وہاں کی عورتیں اس خون آلود رنگ کا چادر اوڑھتی ہیں۔#Pak pic.twitter.com/PgaYzxS6BB

— Mehmood Jan Babar (@MehmoodJan1) January 10, 2022

Hum TV’s new drama serial Sang E Mah was written by Mustafa Afridi and directed by Saife Hassan, featuring the story of a Pashtoon family. It is part of a trilogy series including Sang-e-Mar Mar that had been aired years ago. Sang E Mah would be the second drama of the series following by Sang E Siyah.

The 20-actor cast includes big names including Nauman Ijaz, Kubra Khan, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Sania Saeed, Atif Aslam and Zaviyar Noman, Hania Aamir and others.