‘Youth festivals create spirit of peace, unity’

Islamabad: A three-day colourful Youth Cultural mela organised by National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) in collaboration with provincial cultural departments concluded here on Sunday.

Addressing the concluding ceremony, Executive Director Lok Virsa, Shahera Shahid said that the cultural festival was aimed to promote traditional skills, inculcate awareness among younger generation about the indigenous folk heritage of Pakistan and above all, to create a spirit of peace and unity, strengthen and re-enforce national harmony and integration through a cultural perspective.

She said that its main feature included congregation of youth, youth artisans-at-work, live folk musical and dance performances by young folk artists, musicians and folk dancers, craft bazaar, traditional cuisine of all provinces. During three-day festival, the Culture Department, Sindh, organised Sindhi musical show in collaboration of Lok Virsa Islamabad. The musical night was mix of folk and sufi music.

Renowned singers including Tufail Sanjrani, Faheem Allan, Jinsar Samo, Akbar Khamiso, Farzana Bahar, Bhagchand Lakhani, Dilbar Jalal Chandio, Nirodha were lead singers along with many other rising stars.

Ghulam Akbar Laghari, Secretary Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department Government of Sindh and Madam Shaheera Shahid, Executive Director Lok Virsa were chief guests of the night.

The mela concluded with a colourful Youth Cultural Show wherein young folk artists, musicians and folk dancers performed live in a concert and win recognition of their talent at national level.

A large number of youth/ students of different colleges and universities of the twin cities of Islamabad-Rawalpindi attended the event and enjoyed the thrilling performances presented by young folk artists and musicians. An exhibition organised on topic of Youth Artisans-at-Work also showcased traditional crafts like wood carving, jewellery, embroidery and shawl weaving from Kashmir, handicrafts, cap making and embroidery from Gilgit-Baltistan, Blue tiles work, embroidery, doll making, block printing and truck art from Punjab, shawl weaving and basketry work from KP, Dhambura/ saroz (musical instruments) making and traditional ‘chappal’ making from Balochistan and Ajrak block printing, wood mirror work, pottery making, Farasi weaving, blue tiles work and lungi (turban) weaving from Sindh.