Generations shift: Face tattoo tradition slowly fades in southern Pakistan

For generations, these tattoos have held cultural significance. Anthropologists note they date back hundreds of years, tracing roots to the Indus civilization, and were traditionally used to identify community members and symbolize protection.

The dark black marks eventually fade to a deep green but last a lifetime, carrying a sense of heritage and personal memory. “Whenever I see these tattoos, I remember old friends and the traditions of our village,” says 40-year-old Jamna Kolhi.

Artist Guddi Manthar, grinding charcoal with goat milk using a traditional pot, before drawing indigenous tattoos at the Jogi Colony in Umerkot.

Guddi Manthar, drawing an indigenous tattoo on seven-year-old Champa's face at the Jogi Colony in Umerkot.

Six-year-old Pooja, posing for the camera as she adorns an indigenous tattoo inked on her face.

However, many young women today are choosing to forgo the practice. “These signs set us apart,” says 20-year-old Durga Prem, a computer science student. “In the age of social media, young girls avoid facial tattoos because they feel they make them look different or unattractive.” Her sister Mumta echoes the sentiment, noting that if they had remained in their ancestral villages, they might have followed the tradition.

Despite the decline, elders like Jogi continue the practice with pride. “We don’t make them for any specific reason—it’s our passion, and a way to connect with our heritage,” she explains, admiring the grinning faces of the two young sisters.

While urbanization and changing social norms influence modern choices, these ancestral tattoos remain a cherished part of Sindh’s cultural history, celebrated for their artistry, memory, and connection to the past.