Huner Mela comes to end, fireworks mesmerise audience

PESHAWAR: The three-day Huner Mela- Artisans at work- came to an end on Sunday with the melodious voice of singer Sara Raza Khan.

The Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had organsied the event at the PIA Planetarium near Ghani Bagh Phase-II Hayatabad. The visitors, including women, children and families enjoyed the traditional Hazara, Kalash, Khattak, Mahsud, Attan, Chitrali, Gatka, Attan Ball and Bangash dances.

The music performed by Humayun Khan, Bakhtiyar Khan, Rehmat and Sara Raza Khan, which made the event colourful and attractive.The three days artisans at work festival included 50 stalls of traditional handicrafts and food.

Artisans from Peshawar, Chitral, Kohistan, Kalash, Bannu, Dir, Swat, Kohat, Mardan, Swabi and other regions had established stalls to display handicrafts, embroidery, Taghar work, Bannu Royal Khaadi, stone carving, Peshawari caps, wax painting, metal work, wood carving, artwork, calligraphy, ring making, sitar making, Chitrali Patti, Gandhara Art, Drooza chappal, Sarghashay, Charsadda chapal, maizaray work, Karawa work, Sarkha, Dandas, Parunay, pottery work, blacksmith work, Hazara Jisti Shawl and Moti work and a lot of other items.

In food items, the stalls consisted of Ghatai Rojai, Saag and Jowar Ki Rotai, Painda, Chapli Kabab, Barbecue, Mardan Pairai and other sweets of the region. A separate pavilion was set up for the Kalash, which represented their unique culture and traditions.

For many people, it was the main attraction, stated Saima Ali, a visitor from Peshawar city, who had come especially to Hayatabad to attend the event. Depicting the culture of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a hujra was also set, which included men sitting sipping green tea and narrating stories to the younger generations, stated Murad Khan another visitor who had come to the festival with his teenage children. He said it was the first time the children witnessed The Hujra Culture and enjoyed. The biggest highlight of the event was the fireworks which were for 10 minutes and mesmerized the audience.