Two-day Hum Jawan cultural festival kicks off

PESHAWAR: A two-day youth cultural festival - Hum Jawan - kicked off with colourful programmes at the PIA Planetarium in Hayatabad on Saturday.

The Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has organised the event to promote culture and familiar the present day youth with the centuries-old heritage and history.

The event, which is open to families only, was largely attended by women, children and female students on the first day. They evinced keen interest in the products put on display and various other activities.

Artisans from all the regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are participating in the event.

Around 40 different stalls have been established that presented a variety of products, regional foods and cuisines, art performance and music.

Different competitions including fashion show, face painting, kite-flying, children’s street games, weight lifting, magic shows, Mehndi sketching, cooking and traditional music programmes were held.

The Sawal Band, Tang Takor, Youth Band, Instrumental Jamming and other musical bands performed at the evening. The folk and pop music and the Chitrali, Khattak, Mahsud and Gatkha dances enthralled the audience. The visitors enjoyed the performances and praised the organisers for arranging such programmes.

Fashion show, cooking competitions and traditional musical programmes made the event colourful and attractive for the visitors.

Stalls have been established 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.

Later, the children and women who performed well during various competitions were awarded with prizes.