Journal of Asian Civilizations Vol. 35, No. 2, December 2012 103 -7- Hide not your wine from those who drink: Folktale and Tombs of the Bar Woman and Drunkards of Gadap, Karachi ( Pakistan) Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro 1 Abstract The folktale of Mokhi and Mataras is deeply embedded in Sindhi culture and society. Many rural folks still narrate the story of Mokhi and Mataras. Likewise, Sufi poets composed poems discussing the characters of this folktale. Their monuments are still venerated by rural folks. This paper, deals with the folktale of Mokhi and Mataras and their tombs located at Narathar in Gadap tehsil of Karachi. Folktales are set within a timeless framework. They are concerned with importing moral values and usually take the form of demonstrating what happens to individuals who violate the moral code of the society (Roseman and Rubel 2001:241). A folktale is a secular story as compared to myth, which is sacred story, dealing with the adventures of hero, trickster or other characters (Barnouw 1971:273). Folktales, current in Sindh, have always been the source of entertainment for the rural folks. They still dominate the daily discourse of the rural people. The folktales of Sasui-Punhun, Suhni-Mehar, Moomal-Rano, Umar-Marvi, Lila-Chanesar, Laila-Majnun, Muree- Mongthar, Lakho Phulani-Mehar Rani, Sorath- Rai Dyach and Mokhi- Matara are still narrated by rural folks of Sindh. The shrines and tombs of some characters of the folk romances, particularly, Sasui-Punhun at Sangher in Winder tehsil of Lasbela, Suhni-Mehar in the town of Shahdadpur in Sanghar district and Mokhi Matara in Gadap tehsil of Karachi still attract many people. The folktale of Mokhi and Mataras is an interesting story which mentions the public liquor house and woman who sells the wine to eke out her livelihood. This story is believed to have been occurred during the reign of the last Soomra ruler Hamir Soomro (1328-1349 A.D) of 1 Research Anthropologist at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad. Zulfi04@hotmail.com