Kashmir Cultural Festival held at Lok Virsa

Islamabad
To express solidarity with Kashmiri people, the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) organised a daylong Kashmir Cultural Festival on Thursday.
The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage has been observing Kashmir Solidarity Day in collaboration with Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan for last several years.
This year, the festival brought Kashmiri artisans, artists, non-government organisations and government organisations working for the cause of Kashmir, authentic Kashmiri cuisine under one umbrella to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
The event was arranged with purely cultural and social perspective highlighting the contribution of Kashmiri immigrants who are trying to keep their identity and cultural traditions alive despite atrocities by the Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir. Various organisations, artists, musicians, diplomatic community were invited to participate in the event.
A wide range of programmes were chalked out which continued throughout the day starting from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m.
The main features included Kashmiri artisans-at-work exhibition, Kashmiri folk arts and crafts exhibition, Kashmiri traditional cuisine, congregation of Kashmiri families, Kashmir photo exhibition showing atrocities on innocent Kashmiri people, congregation of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), puppet shows and several activities meant for families and children.
Around twenty two Kashmiri master artisans participated in the Kashmiri artisans-at-work exhibition.
Kashmiri folkloric ensemble 'Taleh-Ruz' (named after Kashmiri embroidery) comprising Kashmiri folk artists, musicians and instrumentalists also performed throughout the day and sung patriotic and national songs.
A large number of NGOs and government organisations working for the cause of Kashmir and social sector also set up their stalls and expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people by way of displaying their products and banners in relevance with the event.
Kashmir cuisine ‘rista’, ‘roghan josh’, ‘tabaq mas’, ‘aab gosht’ and ‘goshtaba’ with Kashmiri green tea was served during the event. Arts and crafts bazaar offered a variety of traditional Kashmiri crafts.
In addition to special programmes organised by Lok Virsa, the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology (Heritage Museum) and Pakistan Monument Museum also remained open throughout the day and entertained the visitors. People from different walks of life visited the event with their families and friends and tried the tastes and crafts of Kashmir.