Maryam praises cultural touch in ‘Punjab Dehaar’ ceremony

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif especially attended the ‘Punjab Dehaar’ colourful celebration ceremony being organized by the Information and Culture Department.

The chief minister was accorded a warm reception in a traditional manner upon her arrival at Alhamra Arts Council. For the first time in the history of the province, 3-day colourful celebrations of ‘Punjab Dehaar’ have begun in Alhamra.

The beating of drums, colourful horses, enthusiastic camel dance and folk music were also presented in the premises of Alhamra Arts Council. The chief minister also inaugurated an art exhibition featuring awe-inspiring views of Punjab at Ustad Allah Bakhsh Gallery. The culture of Lahore was beautifully depicted in the crafted paintings of Zulfiqar Zulfi and she highly appreciated painting skills.

Maryam, while addressing the “Punjab Culture Day ceremony at Al Hamra Arts Council, said, “Punjab and Punjabi are our identity, we cannot forget it.” She said, “All languages and music are good, but Punjabi language has no match. No music and dance can compete with the Bhangra of Punjab. Pakistan is a beautiful country and Punjab is the most beautiful province.”

She said, “After many decades, series of fairs has resumed in Punjab. The Horse and Cattle Show started after 30 years and the people enjoyed it for two weeks. Mela Chiraghan was restored after many years. Under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the stagnation of discontinuity of years was removed and progress started.”

Azma Zahid Bukhari, while addressing the Punjab Dehaar ceremony, said that for the first time in the history of 75 years, Punjab Dehaar is being celebrated on a large scale. The culture of Punjab is so vast and diverse that it is not possible to showcase it by merely expressing words and displaying stalls. A traditional cultural stall of each division has been set up in the Punjab Dehaar ceremony.