Races and Tribes
The principal tribes of the District are Maghiana, Khokher, Jut, Nissowana, Bloch, Gillotar, Lali, Naul, Supra, Thaim Kathia, Sial, Syed, Quraishi and Rajput. The history of Jhang District is mainly connected with rise and fall of the Sials. They migrated to the banks of Chenab in the vicinity of Shorkot in the 14th century and they spread to the North and South along the river and the Thal. They ruled over Jhang for about 300 years when Sikhs defeated them and conquered their country. They were brave, hospitable and hardworking, Rajbana, Bhorwana, Kamlana, and Jangiana are also races from Rajput Sial and they are living in most of the villages of the District. Among these Jangiana has assumed the title of Mian, while the other are known by surname, as Mehr or Khan Sahibs. The Chief Syed Family are of Shah Daulat (with head quarter at Rajoa). Shah Jewana, Shorkot and Uch mostly belong to Bukhari family. Their majority lives in Chiniot and Jhang tehsil where they own large areas of land in Pir Kot Sadhana and claim to be the descendants of Syed Abdul Qadir Gillani. Next in importance are Qureshis, who occupy the same areas in Shorkot as that by Syeds in Chiniot and Jhang. The chief Qureshi family are in Havely Bahadar Shah, Pir Abdur Rehman, Hasso Balail in Shorkot and Havely Sheikh Raju, Dosa and Shah Shakur in Jhang. The Qureshis of Shah Shakur, Dosa, and Hasso Balail are Hashmi Qureshis and are allied to the Multan family of Bahawal Haq. The rest claim relationship to the Hashmi Qureshi springing from the generation previous to Bahawal Haq. The important trading class is the Khojas. The Khojas community is centered at Chiniot. They have gathered considerable wealth from extensive trading. Most of the textile mills and silk mills in Faisalabad and other places are owned by them. The only Jut tribe of any importance in Jhang tehsil are the Naul, who hold several villages near Jhang and in Kachhi. They settled in the district before Sials. The Nissowana are a pure Jut tribe though sometimes called Rajputs. They inhabit the northern corner of Chiniot. They are fine people, fearless and full of pugnacity. The Sipras are a large tribe found in association with the Bhorwana Sails in almost all their villages. They are fine lot and can give a good account of themselves in a fight. There is also a considerable number of Balochs but with one or two exceptions, all their villages lie to the west of the Chenab. They are good agriculturists and cultivate their own holdings in Kachhi.
Dress
Generally, the dress of the people in rural areas consist of a shirt and majhla ( a white cloth tied round the loins and reaching halfway below the knees), chaddar ( a white cloth hanging loose on the shoulders), pug ( a piece of thin cloth round the head) and a pair of chappals (shoes). In the cold weather they also wrap a blanket around their shoulders. The urban population also wears shirt and shalwar and the educated class wear european dresses. The women on festive occasions wear bright printed clothes of silken material in rural areas and generally in towns. A dupatta is an essential article of female dress. In winter, clothes are made of heavier materials.
Food
The staple food is chappati of barley or wheat flour made with butter, milk, ghee, gram. Bajra, jawar and maize are also eaten. Farmers in the rural areas take two meals a day and drink milk and lassi. The urban population mostly eats chappatis, pulses, vegetables, mutton or beef. Now rice is also consumed in considerable quantity.
Betrothals and Marriages
The betrothals and marriage customs in this district are similar to those of many other districts of Punjab. On marriages the people of Jhang are known to spend large amount of money and run into debts as well. Generally, watta-satta system i.e. exchange of daughters given in marriage is practiced. Such marriages at times are not successful. Family feuds arise and last for generations. These are not being encouraged now.
A few days before marriage, a ceremony known as Mehndi is celebrated in which hands and feet of the bride are smeared with Henna (Mehndi). On the marriage day bride groom goes in marriage procession to the house of the bride where Nikkah is performed and the bride leaves with the groom and stays with her in-laws for a few days and then returns to her parent's house after the Walima (reception) ceremony. After a few days / weeks groom goes to his father in law's house to bring his bride back. This visit is called Muklawa.
Births
When a child is born, Maulvi of the village Mosque says Azan in his / her ears. When the child is a week old his head is shaved , called the Jhand, people sacrifice two goats for a boy and one for a girl and the meat is distributed among the poor, friends and relatives. This custom is called Aqiqa.
Deaths
Deaths are hideously mourned in some families and work is suspended for many days. In uneducated classes, the death of the octogenarians is celebrated like festivities.
Sports / Fairs / Festivals
Annual cattle shows are held near Pir's tomb every year. These are occasions for the purchase and sale of cattle and amusement of the people. The fair aims at the encouragement of cattle breeding, agriculture and use of modern agricultural implements. Horse and camel races are held and prizes are distributed to the winners at the conclusion of the fair. The chief sport of men is a game called Pir Kaudi. The senior zamindars especially the Syeds and Rajput Sials enjoy the fight between the dogs and bears. The bears are tied with a tree and Dogs are let loose. In some cases the bear is killed but usually the cunning bear gains victory over the dogs. This is being discouraged and is not popular now. The Zamindars take great delight in the competition of bullock in which the bullocks are yoked with the persian-wheel and made to drive it till evening without any break. The pair of bullocks which does not stagger or fall is adjudged the winner. The Sials and Syeds are very fond of Tent-Pegging also.
Superstitions / Beliefs
Pirs have certain amount of influence on the illiterate people. Syeds are held in high-esteem and reverence. Annual urs are held on the shrines of Shah Jewana, Hazarat Sultan Bahu, Pir Abdur Rehman, Pir Kalian, Rodu Sultan, Sadiq Nahang etc where a large number of people participate.