Hujrah

Hujra is a common sitting or sleeping place for males in the village. visitorsand unmarried young men sleep in the hujra. Expenses are usually shared by the village.Almost every hujra has a mosque adjacent to it in the village structure.

The Hujra, which represents the sociable character of the Pukhtoons, is a useful institution and it plays a pivotal role in their daily life. It serves as a club, "dormitory, guest house and a place for ritual and feastings". It is a center for social activities as well as a Council Hall for the settlement of family and inter-tribal disputes. It is used as a male dormitory where bachelors of the village sleep. It is a guesthouse where guests are jointly entertained by village folk and a community center for betrothals, marriages and social functions. Even condolences are offered in the Hujra on the demise of a person and here sympathy is expressed with the bereaved family. It is a place of public resort where village elders and youngsters get-together in their leisure hours to discuss tribal, national and international affairs and matters of mutual interest. "The guests and strangers are fed and sheltered free of all charges in the village Hujras".

The Hujra and Jirga are interring related. It is not only a meeting place of the villagers but it is also used as a platform for the Jirga's meetings where important decisions are made and family quarrels and tribal disputes are amicably resolved. In some places the Hujra happens to be the property of one man but in tribal areas it is a common property. Hujra, Hubble bubble (Cheelam) and Rabab (String instrument) and an earthen pitcher are inseparable and are considered its part and parcel. Though the hubble-bubble still retains its old place yet the music of Rabab with the accompaniment of the pitcher is vanishing and their place is being taken up by radio, transistor and television sets.

The Hujras are generally well fortified. They have one or two towers with a loopholed parapet for the purpose of defence of the village and firing down and along the wall in case of an outbreak of hostilities. The youngsters of the village in general and bachelors in particular sleep in the Hujra to guard the village in case of blood feuds. The Hujra usually consists of two or three rooms with adjacent veranda and a courtyard. A number of bedsteads or charpaees, pillows and quilts and praying rugs available in Hujra for the guests.