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Lok Virsa holds special show to express solidarity with Kashmiris

By our correspondents
February 06, 2016

Islamabad

To mark Kashmir Solidarity Day on Friday, the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) organised a special ceremony to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people struggling for their right to self-determination in the occupied Kashmir.

Renowned intellectual and Chairman Pakistan Television Corporation Ata ul Haq Qasmi was the chief guest on the occasion. Over five hundred students, teachers and parents of children attended the special ceremony, which featured vibrant performances including Kashmiri patriotic song ‘Ah watan teri janat mein aain ge aik din’, famous Kashmiri song ‘Mun di moj wich’, popular Punjabi, Potohari and Hazara folk song ‘chitey chanan di chani sargi dea tarea’ etc.

The event also included cultural diversity show ‘Rhythm of Unity’ based on famous folk tunes and songs, mystic song ‘Lal meri’. All these songs were presented by children of Islamabad Model School for Girls, F-7/2 along with folk artists, musicians and performers.

Speaking on this occasion, Ata ul Haq Qasmi said Pakistan wants the solution of Kashmir dispute according to the wishes of its people who are struggling hard for their right of self-determination. “Their sacrifices will bear fruit and they will see the light of the day," he said.

In her welcome speech, Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr. Fouzia Saeed, said that Lok Virsa has organised a seven-day special training programme on ‘Kashmiri Folk Crafts: Engagement with Artisans’ under the ongoing ‘Craft of the Month’ series. “Coinciding with the Kashmir Solidarity Day, the current programme is actually an initiative to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people. The programme revolves around folk crafts to provide coaching to students and young children.”

While introducing ‘Craft of the Month’ programme, she said that under this project, Heritage Museum highlights one craft for a week and engages with artisans and experts to introduce children on this craft. These craft-persons not only display their skills and make them in front of the people but also teach children and have materials for them to experiment with the medium.”

Highlighting the significance of the programme, ED, Lok Virsa further said, "This is an experiment of sowing the seeds of pluralistic society in our younger generation. A generation that will take care of our country in future and make it a truly pluralistic society where people of all cultures, languages and traditions living in Pakistan will fully own each other as valued Pakistani citizens.”

On this occasion, certificates were awarded to the participants of the last programme on ‘Block Printing’ by the chief guest. Thirty five students from Islamabad Model College for Girls, G-8/4 and special children from various centres of Directorate General for Special Education received the certificates.

The Kashmiri folk crafts training programme started at Lok Virsa on February 1 and will continue till Sunday (February 7). The crafts focused in the programme include Papier Mache, wood carving, Namda and Gabba (floor rug and wall hanging), embroidery, shawl weaving and others.

Around sixty children studying in various schools and colleges working under the administrative control of Federal Directorate of Education, Directorate of Special Education and children of visitors to Heritage Museum are participating in the current programme.

The artisans who are seen actively involved in the programme providing training classes to children include Sheikh Muhammad Yousuf and Gul-e-Zehra in Kashmiri embroidery and shawl, Irfan Ghulam Nabi in wood carving, Mukhtar Ahmad Dar in Namda and Gabba, Liaquat Hussain in jewellery and Deeba Rana with her group of three ladies in Papaier Mache. This group of female artisans has been contributed by Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) for the programme.

Timings of the Kashmiri folk crafts programme are from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily. Apart from school students, children of the visitors to Lok Virsa Heritage Museum are also encouraged to learn craft making techniques from the master artisans without any charges.

Later talking to media, Dr. Fouzia Saeed informed that the next programme focusing on 'Chunri and Kite Making' will take place from March 1 to 6, 2016 at Heritage Museum marking Basant celebrations. On March 6, Lok Virsa will fully celebrate 'Basant' with youth. She also invited residents of Islamabad-Rawalpindi to the special programmes being hosted by Lok Virsa coinciding with the forthcoming International Women Day celebrations 2016.