Culture & Heritage

Traditional Houses

The traditional old house is basically a one room house where almost all  human activities were carried out: from cooking of food to sleeping. The cooking section is in the middle of the floor so that the family members sit in surroundings of the fire place and get heat.  Just above the bukhari (fire place) traditional Central Asian style Risen (chimney/holes) are prepared for ventilation and light. On the roof a Mara (small store previously used to store fruits) and a verandah type shelter is prepared. During old times due to hot within the house people were sleeping on roofs of their houses.

The house hall  is divided into different sections to be used for different purpose. The entrance is called Kunj which is a small way to the yorch that is the first place inside the house. The yorch comprises the lowest level of the house where all footwear has to be left on the right and the left side two elevated platforms to be found called Razh, which are utilized for sitting during the day and for sleeping at night. When one enters the house the right platform is assigned to men and the left one to women. Behind central fireplace there is the cooking platforms called Dildung. This is the special sphere for the housewife for long houses. She is occupied with preparation of food for the whole family, the preparation and distribution of food is done here and she can survey the whole scene. The area around bukhari called nikard used for sitting and dining hall. The two right and left sections used for sleeping. An inner area ghanz used as as a store.   Behind the cooking platform there is Chikish and mara (store), which is reserved for housewife. There all utensils displayed in a cupboard Trak and edible are stored in special containers of the store. Guests are asked to rest against the pillars supporting the flat roof and to sit in the corner of their respective platform (Dildong Ben), which is the place closet to fire in order to importance. The animal portion called Ghel is built at some distance from the house. It consists of three to four rooms. There is also a room for storage of fodder called Wozdoon.  

However, now a-days their has been changes within the main structure of the traditional houses. The traditional house after modifications in its structure is used as main hall where the family members sit together. Separate rooms are now constructed for sleeping purposes. The kitchen has been now separated from the main hall.  Toilets are now used instead of Suroi.

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