In the olden days, the people of Kohat believed that wearing an all-black outfit could bring misfortune or harm to the wearer. Black, often associated with mourning and ominous energy, was considered a colour that needed to be tempered to prevent attracting negativity.
To counter this perceived threat, only a part of the attire could be black—never the entire ensemble. For instance, before someone could wear a black dupatta, with a peace of mind, a special ritual was performed to safeguard against any potential ill effects, usually overseen by the matriarch of the household.
The ritual involved the dupatta being placed on one side of a scale. On the other side, the matriarch would carefully add salt, symbolic of rizk, and some coins until the scale was balanced. Once the scale was balanced, the salt and the coins were given away as alms (Sadqah). This act of giving was seen as a form of spiritual cleansing, redirecting any potential harm away from the wearer and ensuring their safety.
The rule of superstitions being associated to black outfits applied to everyone, irrespective of gender. It is also not unique only to Kohat. Wearing black, at large, was avoided, owing to similar beliefs, not only in Kohat but also in the Hazara Division, Azad Kashmir, Punjab and Balochistan.
Traditionally, both black and white are colours associated with mourning across several ethnic communities in Pakistan, and were avoided during times of celebration, or day-to-day wear.
Source: Recorded in Kohat, from an old lady, aged a little over 80, from the Miankhel tribe. She narrated an incident where her aunt did this ritual for her.
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