Living in Thar is not so easy but is full of action and thrill for those tourists and visitors who take pains to discover and see new cultures, Iifestyles and traditions. The splendour inside Thar desert starts from the spectacular sun-rising and sun-setting scenes camel caravans, grazing and travelling herds, big and small sand dunes with thorny bushes, traditional dresses and jewellery of women, folk music and dances. Thar is a cultural island in the mid of Sindhi Rajhastani and Gujrati ocean of culture. The Rajhastani culture overshadows the other two cultures. Thari music seems to be more inspired by the Rajhastani music traditions but with its own emotional rhythm and colours. The musician here believes that most of the Thari music is based on Mandh beat of Rajhastani music; even the women weep-n-cry in the same rhythm on a death. Thari music is considered to be vital importance in folk music of Pakistan, and is often used as background music for TV plays and serials because of its simplicity, emotional expressions oneness and oddity.

Thari musicians
The Thari musicians are especially invited to folk concerts and fairs all over Pakistan as they are considered to be the best in Kafi singing. Kafi is a kind of poetic expression with a blend of mysticism. Most of the kafis were written by great Sufis (mystics) of Sindh. They have their own regional and folk songs too: what they sing on their weddings and other happy occasions like fairs and when the rain falls. Mostly each verse of their Folk songs is divided into four rhythmic beats but the frame of composition remains the same. Tile folk music and dance are the living traditions of Thar. Ask a woman or man to dance or sing and they will Pain. agony, solitude and deprivation are the basic components. Because of their poor life-style, even their melodies are sung on sad rhythmic beats. Thari male singers are commonly known as faqirs (a devotee who lives near a saint’s tomb).

Popular singers
Among the six popular singers from Thari five are men including Murad Faqir, Budhu Faqir, Kalu Faqir. Shaadi Faqir Dhadhi and Bhgru Bhel. Mial Bhagi was the only female singer who got recognition on national level. Her songs were recorded by radio and TV and later on released on cassettes. Like other parts of Pakistan, Thar also has a few folk dances including Dandan Rand, Mitco, Chakar Rand and Rasooro. The Dandan Rand is performed by eight or ten men, holding one small stick in one hand and silk handkerchief in the other, dancing in a cricle, on the dhol beat. The dhol player also sings the songs while rest of the men dance Mitco is the solo performance by a male dancer. It is also performed by women in their houses on weddings of their sons. The Chakar Rand dance is another tradition. The male dancer performs it holding a sword in his band on dhol beat The Rasooro is a stick dance by women and even the dhol is played by women and some women also sing songs on the same dhol bent.
Festival are significant part of Thar’s cultural life. Since the life of people is quite difficult. They feel starved for recreational activities and festivals provide them a source of delight and joy. The Thari Muslims’ festivals are mosity arranged at the tombs of saints and sufis whereas Hindus’ at their temples. For both Muslims and Hindus, these festivals remain simple but colourful with a few shops of sweets specially. Naukot and Diplo are major towns west of Thar and Umarkot Town is the district headquarters of Tharparkar District. Access to Umarkot is rather easy now due to the infrastracture development work in the last few years. Umarkot was once the capital of Sindh including some part of the Rajhastan, now in India. It was prominent in the Mughal and British periods. Mughal emperor Akbar was born in Umerkot. This was the time when Mughal King Humayun had lost the war against Sher Shah Sun.

A legend relating to Umarkot si the tale of Umar and Marv
i Marvi was a beautiful young local girl that was abducted by the then ruler Umar who wanted to marry her. Marvi refused, upon which Umar kept her in prison in the famous Umarkot Fort for several years before releasing her. Umarkot is in fact known by the brick masonry constructed fort built by the Kalhore king, Noor Muhammad in the 18th century. At present, the fort is worth visiting. Small pickets at the top of the fort, for artillery Guns to be pointed at the enemy are erected at each corner of the fort. One can also visit a small one room museum at one side of the fort with good collection of Mughal army, coins, paintings and various documents of that era.

Thar Desert Festival
Accommodating all these festive activities, a three day Thar Desert Festival was organised in the 3rd week of February 2007 by the Tourism Department, Government of Sindh, supported by PTDC and travel and travel and tour operators of the province. The Festival was a part of the visit pakistan Year. The festival infact was well received by the citizens of Umarkot and adjoining towns.
The festival had the added advantage of presenting stalls depicting the rich traditions of Sindh and Thar Desert. Handicrafts, Shawls, handmade rugs, carpets, rullii and hand embrodied sandals were the main attractions at the exhibition while snake charmers drew much attention of the visitors.
It was a revealing discovery inside the desert as several artists, folk singers, dancers and musicians performed to the tremendous applause of the thousands of guests watching the cultural programme at the Umarkot Fort. The kafi singers performed exceptionally well followed by the Fairs who also were at their best. The guests watching the performance of varios artists, each performing better than the other. The federal Ministry of Tourism which leads in promoting and giving exposure to artists has taken a good step for promoting the hidden talent witnessed at the Thar Desert Festival, to a wide national and international audience.