Sohni Mahiwal

Sohni Mahiwal[a] (Punjabi: [soː(ɦ)ɳiː məɦĩʋaːl]) or Suhni Mehar[b] is a traditional Punjabi–Sindhi folk tragedy.

Set in central Sindh or northern Punjab, depending upon the version of the tragedy, the folktale depicts the separation of two lovers and their tragic demise.

The other six are Umar Marvi, Momal Rano, Sassui Punnhun, Lilan Chanesar, Sorath Rai Diyach, and Noori Jam Tamachi.

The heroine Sohni, unhappily married to a man she despises, swims every night across the river using an earthenware pot to keep afloat in the water, to where her beloved Mahiwal herds buffaloes.

One night her sister-in-law replaces the earthenware pot with a vessel of unbaked clay, which dissolves in water and she dies in the whirling waves of the river.

[11] The Sindhi version of the folk tragedy, known as Suhni Mehar, was composed by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai based on an old narration.

[12] This narration is connected with one of the outlets of the Indus River, named Luhano Dhoro, which then turned to flow west of Shahdadpur.

[14] In Sindh, Suhni's shrine is located at Shahdadpur of Sanghar District and is still visited by people as a historical site.

[15] In the 18th century (late Mughal period), a beautiful girl, Sohni, was born to a potter named Tulla.

At the time, Gujrat, located on the banks of river Chenab, was a caravanserai on the trade route between Bukhara and Delhi.

On the day the "barat" (marriage party) of that potter arrived at her house, Sohni felt helpless and lost.

Earlier Nawab Kumhar Inayat Kotia and later Alam Lohar have also made many renditions of this kalaam and were among the first singers to present the story in a song format.

Pakistani pop band Noori's song Dobara Phir Se is inspired by the lore of this story as well as the more recent, Paar channa de, from Coke Studio Pakistan (season 9).

Paar channa de was earlier sung by Arif Lohar and Saleema Jawwad for 2013 movie Zinda Bhaag, based on a traditional folk song.

Tomb of Sohni in Shahdadpur , Sindh
Mural of Sohni Mahiwal folk tale from Sui Simbli temple in Jammu
Sohni swims to meet her lover Mahiwal