Sheikhan
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- For the professional poker player Shahram "Sheiky" Sheikhan, see Shawn Sheikhan.
Moza Sheikhan | |
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  Moza Sheikhan | |
| Coordinates: 31°36′N 72°28′E / 31.60°N 72.46°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| Elevation | 152 m (499 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
Sheikhan (Punjabi Shahmukhi:شیخن) (Punjabi Gurmukhi: ਸੇ਼ਖ਼ਨ) (Hindi: से़ख़न) City is situated in District Chiniot in Punjab province of Pakistan.
Geography
Southern side
The village Sheikhan is situated in some distance 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) from the right bank of river Chenab (Chanhan) in Utar region which flows in south east of village. A rain pond is also located at some half-mile distant from village in southern side called Sangar.
Northern side
In North Side, a canal flowing from river Jehlum (Vehat) provides water to village lands for cultivation. Most of the population lives in old villages while a colony was also settled by prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the 1970s for non-landowning people, and also a number of population is living in north side crossing the canal after the development of a link road between Jhang and Lalian which is called Adda Sheikhan.
Adjoining villages
Bhawana is just 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Sheikhan. Adjoining villages to the west are Ratta Matta, Sahdipur, Tibbi Lalera, TindianWala, Kot Sultan, Inayatpur and Thatta Shah Jamal whole across the river Thatta Muhammad Shah. Several other hamlets (wells) are part of the village and are also populated place like Chah Rustlliwala, Mundi ber, Jhalar Nathu Shah. As before the canal irrigation system each 50-acre (200,000 m2) of land was cultivated with the help of wells, so there are several wells existing in village lands like Gulabewala, Rariwala, Ameerwala, Hari Singh Wala, Kohluwala etc. In eastern side Muhammad Wala is located near thana Muhammad Wala.
Vegetation
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Being an agricultural area most of the land is ploughed but still waste land can be found here specially near the river banks. Different kind of trees, grasses and shrubs are found here.
Trees
Kikar, Talhi, Jand, pippal, Bohar, Vann.
Shrubs
Karil, Akk, others.
Grasses
Lunak, Dhaman, others.
Herbs
Hermal
People
Most of the People living here belong to the Bukhari Sadat tribe, descendants of Shah Sheikhan who was a descendant of Imam Ali Naqi, the ninth Imam of Shi'a Muslims and also 8th in the pedigree tree of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib. The other leading tribe is Chadhar whose four families from wejhwa sub tribe of chadhar live here: Ramzan Ke, Zamme Ke, Ghamme Ke and Dargahi Ke. Small numbers of Sial, Khokhar, Bhutta, Dhudhi , and Bilal Hussain Jani also live here.
History
Sheikhan's name first appears in the history for a skirmish happened between Chadhars and Mahni Sials around 18th century. Noora Chadhar the son of Salaim who was the brother of Mirza Sahiba fame Tahir Khan Chadhar had bayle with Mahnis of Khiwa at occasion of a Festival in Sheikhan in the which 70 siyals and 7 Chadhars are killed and Sultan Shah of Sheikhan supports Chadhars.
Celebrities
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Shaheed Quaid Allama Syed Arif Hussain Al-Hussaini, Allama syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, Allama Muhammad Hussain Najafi (Dhakku), Allama Nazar Hussain tiwana also known as Nazar Qutbi, Allama Nazir Hussain Dhakku, Allama Syed Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi Al-Najafi the principal Jamia Imam Khomeini Mari Indus, Allama Syed Mazhar Kazmi the principal Jamiatul Baeathat of Rajoa Sadat.
Poets and scholars
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Khan Ghulam Abid Baloch Pen Name Mumtaz (Blessed), Nazar Muhammad Taseer, Riaz Hussain Jaffery
Education
There are two Government primary schools for boys in the village. One of which has been serving since before the partition, two Government primary schools for girls, while three private secondary co schools namely Jinnah Cadet School. Set almost six years before in year 1998, Science School System and Al-Qamar Science Education System making all possible efforts to cope with the state of the art education.
There are students in Engineering (Naval, Nuclear, Telecommunication, Chemical, Environmental Science and Civil etc.), Space Technology, Medicine, Business, Education and almost in every field of the modern age.
Language
The prevailing language is Punjabi. Urdu is also spoken.
Culture
The dominating culture of the region is a civilized form of Bari Culture i.e. the culture of Sandal Bar area though physically this area is not the part of Sandal Bar region. Sandal Bar is some mile away from here across the river Chenab.
Calendar
Along with the modern Gregorian Calendar the traditional Bikrami calendar and the in religious matters Islamic Hijri Calendar are followed here.
Religious events like births and deaths of Masoomen are followed according to Islamic Hijri Calendar while official events like school exams, etc. are performed according to Gregorian calendar but Bikrami Calendar is popular.
Sports
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- Cricket
- Volley Ball
- Kabaddi
- Gully Danda
Many cricket tournaments were played in this region. Almost all youths are interested in cricket and volleyball.
Dress
Men
Men tie a big plain cloth called Majhla around the waist and it goes to ankles while wear a kurta which covers upper part of body usually it drops to knees. Majhla is apiece of cloth usually 6 meters long and 1 and 1/2 meter broad. Men tie a turban at their heads. But while visiting houses of syeds men do not wear turban for due respect to their status of being descendants of Muhammad.
Women
Women also wear the same dress but there is difference in tying the majhla and that style is called Dhudder and by this style the part is covered in such a way there is no chance of uncovering any part of lower body. Women keep a scarf on their heads. It is said that some decades ago women used to wear choli on upper part of body that is a part of Rajasthani Culture.
Shoes
The traditional shoes are called Khussa which are made of pure cow leather and are decorated with Tilla golden or silver ornamentation. Jewellery Jewellery called Toomb in local language includes Mundri, Chhalla, Choorian, Kangan, Panjangla, Tikka, Nath, Hamel, Kantey, Gulooband etc.
Modern era changes in dress
With the advent of the modern age, the younger generation usually do not wear traditional dresses and are used to wearing Shalwar (a loose trouser), Qameez (a loose long shirt) and English trousers and shirt.
Food
Meal is taken thrice a day.
Tukkar
Tukkar, Phulka or Roti is the local name of bread. It is mostly baked in Desi Oven called Tandoor. In past it was only baked at tnadoors owned by Dayas but this tradition is gradually vanishing and even it is replaced by the stove baked bread. Loon or salt is the essential part of flour prepared for bread. Paratha is a kind of bread whose flour is prepared with Oil or Desi Gheu.
Bhaji
Is the local name of curry. Also called Salen is basically a mixture of red peppers, salt, water, vegetables, ghee, beef or mutton, taken along with chapaties for lunch or dinner.
Chawal
Basically it is a common name for rice.
Lassi
Lassi is produced from milk. There are two types of Lassi: kachi Lassi, Pakki Lassi.
Dudh
Dhudh, also called dhoodh, is milk of cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep and camels, favourite of Jatt peoples.
Local cuisine
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Judicial system
Parhen
Even today's fastest world, Parhen or Parhea is working well towards the solution/decision of all social issues generated among the people.
Thana Barana
Located at Muhammad Wala, is the nearest ultimate FIR destiny.
Religion
Almost 75% of the population belong to Shi'a Ithna Ashri Muslims, who believe in 12 imams being Hujjat Ibn al Hassan al Askari the last 12th Imam appearing in end of times. All the people became the followers of Shietteism when a person named Chaghatta belonging to Zamme Ke family of Wejhwa Chadhar tribe started preaching shietteism almost 150 years before. The other 25% Sunni Muslims are enjoying peaceful life without the concept of being minority.
Holy places
There are four mosques and Imam Bargahs in different points of villages form which two are the oldest ones, one of which is cared by Syeds of village while other is cared by the descendants of chaghatta or Zamme ke family. There is also a Madersa near Adda Sheikhan named Jamia Imamul Asr which is affiliated with Jamia Imam Khomeini Mari Indus. On the other hand, Sunni boys and girls get their religious education in their respective Madrasas situated in the vicinity of Mosques. Shia Sunni brotherhood can be seen on the occasion of Ashura every year, when Shi'a Muslims are in processions while Sunni Muslims are making arrangements of Sabeel for them. The Annual Procession on the Tenth of Muharram are carried through Thatta Shah Jamal, adjoining hamlets and Adda Sheikhan to Sheikhan.
Production
The area is agrarian, so village production is agro-based.
Wheat
Wheat which is the essential part of local people's food is major crop of area.
Rice
Local people don't like rice much for eating as there is proverb in local language Sevian Murath taeen chawal Adhi raat taeen meaning Pasta is digested in between reaching up to door and rice is digested maximum till midnight. Nonetheless, rice is a major crop of the area.
Cotton
Cotton is grown in the village but that could only fulfill the needs of village people.
Barley
Barley is grown along with wheat and is cut a month before the wheat. It is used to get satoo by crushing its grain. Satoo is used for drinking mixed in water.
Vegetables
There are cauliflower, turnip, cabbage, lady finger, etc.
Oranges
Orange called Malta in local language is the major fruit of area which grows in winter season, starts from October and remains till April.
Sugar cane
Sugar cane locally called Ganna is also produced here and is supplied to sugar mills and is also used in producing Gur that is pieces of brown sugar.
Melons
Watermelon is also a major production of area because there is plenty of underground water in Hithar Area at banks of river. Its local name is kalak. Another variety of melon whose local name is Rainndi is also a major production in Hithari lands of Sheikhan. This is a deep-ribbed melon.
Other fruit
Other fruits production of the area include mango, Bair (local name).
Grasses
Chhatala, Bersin, Chari Bajra are the local name of grasses produced here as pet animal feed.
Milk and dairy products
As it is an agro-based area, most of people keep cows and buffaloes. The milk is collected by various milk reprocessing companies like Nestle, Chaudhry Dairies Limited, Mubarak Dairies. Animal fat that is extracted from the cream in milk is called Desi Gheu in local language and is internally traded. It was the major part of daily diets some decades ago and now has been replaced by various Hydrogenated Fats. Another milk product (Dahee), a yoghurt, extracted condensed, is prepared at home. Butter is also traded internally.
Business places
Adda Sheikhan has become a business hub of the area. A branch of Habib Bank is situated at Adda Sheikhan. The crops, urea and other goods are well traded here and people of surrounding villages prefer doing their sale purchase at Adda Sheikhan. A telephone exchange is also fulfilling the communication needs of the entire area since 2005.
Communications
Mobile phone operators
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Telephone exchange
A landline telephone exchange was set up here by Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Ltd. Syed Shabar Abbas is head of this exchange.
Telephone area code
Area Code for landline numbers is 0477 which is actually for the whole of district Jhang. Most of the numbers of area start with 6600xx and 6601xx total seven numbers.
World Wide Web
Connectivity to world wide web or Internet is available here through dialup connection.
Transport
Road
A road that is a link road between Lalian and Jhang City passes through Sheikhan. The main sources of travelling on this road, are van and buses. The bus system has a long route from Jhang to Lalian but Vans start their route from Sheikhan to Jhang and vice versa.
Air
If one intends to come here by air, one must pick a flight to Faisalabad where one can hire a car to reach Jhang city and then into Sheikhan. Or one can avail a public transport that is van or bus from Faisalabad to Jhang and then again have to pick a van or auto bus from Jhang Lari Adda (Bus Terminal) to Sheikhan.
- Pakistan International Airlines - two daily flights to Faisalabad
- Airblue - one daily flight to Faisalabad
Rail
The location can be reached by Shorkot-Shaheenabad (Multan-Sargodha Mainline) branch line. About eight trains run on the track daily.
