This isn't exactly local writing or music but it is something people frequently do. They grab their ears and beg Allah to forgive them for whatever wicked thing they have said, done or thought. Sometimes adults make small children apologise this way as well-- it is a very serious way to say you are sorry about something.
These three stills come from a video clip I used a few times to get explanations for when people did this and what it meant. This turned out to be a rather trivial exercise and I got almost uniform answers from everyone but that's life somedays.
Below Mr. Javaid Khan, from Mardan originally but for the past
year a resident of Bhalot, demonstrates toba for me.
Toba ustofa, Allah pak mafi do.
Translation: Repentence, God forgive me.
Like in the King James version of the Bible, people here use the familiar form of 'you' when speaking to God. The verb do, from dena (to give) is the familiar imperative.
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