Not many people know about Balochistan or its wonders – the somewhat neglected province is home to some beautifully crafted myths and throat-lumping scary legends.
Here are some legend and myths of Balochistan that make up a great read.. and definitely make you want to visit!
- Pir Chattal Noorani Gandhawa, Jhal Magsi – The Saint and his Sacred fish
Pir Chattal Noorani Gandhawa is an absolutely astonishing oasis, right in the center of Jhal Magsi, Balochistan. Here’s the thing about this paradise on earth.. it holds a very secretive story behind it’s beautiful face.
The oasis is full of at least 2 foot long fishes, thousands in numbers – who have been here for centuries. Wonder why they have never been eaten or hunted? Here’s the catch – locals and now, people from all over Pakistan firmly believe that if the fishes were harmed.. eaten or even bothered – the person would suffer a painful and embarrassing death.
If one was to eat these fishes.. it is said the fish would be the cause of the death and come out alive from the body. Unbelievable? Well.. why don’t you go try and eat a fish. Just to prove us wrong.
- Pir Ghaib, Bolan – The myth of the Invisible Saint
See the streamline going up? It is said that a Muslim Pir and his sister had come to Balochistan to guide the people who lived here and invite them to join Islam. However, the King of Bolan was rather unkind to their invitation.
The King sent out an army of soldiers to finish both brother and sister off. This is where the siblings separated – the brother found his way up the Bolan mountain and inside a cave.. where the soldiers followed him. He reached a dead end! Only where there was a rock mountain in front of him. With a shovel at his mercy.. he started clawing at the mountain.. and soon the soldiers caught sight of him. As they moved towards him.. the Saint VANISHED into the rock.
Thus, from that day.. the place is known as Pir Ghaib (Invisible Saint) – soon after, the mountain flooded water and created a natural oasis. Till date, there is no source of water coming from inside the mountain.
- Bibi Naani, Bolan – The tomb that survived 30 feet tides
Remember the Invisible Saint’s sister? She was Bibi Nani – the one who was ordered dead by the King of Bolan. After the siblings had split up, Bibi Nani found her way down the Bolan pass, which is where she is buried, under the Bibi Nani Pull.
Now nobody knows how she died or who even buried her – nor does she have an extra-ordinary myth attached to her. Then again, if it did not.. she wouldn’t have been on the list. In mid October, 1986 – there was a huge flood in the Bolan bank which literally destroyed everything.. from the bridge to the roads.. except one thing – THE TOMB OF BIBI NANI.
Now if you’re a believer, you’d believe it – if you’re not – you can rid it. But this is what happened, the tomb survived 30 feet tides of flood water, remaining unaffected. This is why Bibi Nani is cherished in a special way.
- Chehel-Tan, Chiltan – Mountain Of Fourty Infant Souls
Twenty kilometers west of Quetta, looms the Chiltan mountain range – right above the Chiltan National Park. A normal landscape perhaps? Not exactly. The Chiltan mountains are home to 40 elfin children, who misguide tourists and unwary travelers in the worst manner.
The Brahvi legend, coming from the time of the Dravidians, says that the children misguide the travelers and lead them deep into the forests.. from which, till date, no one has returned. Brahvi shepherds would swear on their lives they still hear children screaming all night.
The question is why do these children do this? And who are they. The legend again, says, there was a Brahvi couple who led a barren life with no children. They prayed and prayed.. and miraculously.. not one, not two – gave birth to 40 children! Since they were poor people and could not afford to feed 40 children.. they decided to keep 1 and left the other 39 in the forest.
They thought the children would die or someone would take them.. but they survived.. and were brought up by Mother Nature. The parents went into the forest and tried to lure the others to come for their brother as bait.. but the quick, lightning “children of the forest” gathered their brother and is said.. still haunt the mountain till date.
- Koh-e-Suleman, Harnai – Prophet Solomon’s viewpoint of South Asia
There are two myths attached to this marvelously massive mountain. However, the more famous myth revolves around the Prophet Solomon’s presence on the mountain located in between Harnai and Dera Ghazi Khan.
Great historian Ibn-e-Batuta says, the Prophet Solomon was the first person in history to climb the top of the mountain.. from where he looked upon all of South Asia. It is said the mountain was blessed in such vanity, that the Prophet was able to keep eye on all of it. Thus, the mountain was named Koh-e-Suleman (Mountain of Suleman) and the place where he sat as Takht-e-Suleman (Chair of Suleman). It is also said that Noah’s ark descended from the air to the Takht-e-Suleman, as well.
The other myth is a local Pashtun legend, that says that Qais was Pathan Pir who died on top of the mountain and is buried there, they call the place Da Kasi Ghar (Mount of Qais) – who locals run to and make sacrifices (a goat or a lamb) to help feed the poor.
So, did you find these myths and legends interesting? Surely, a mind-boggling read.