10-day Lok Mela starts

Islamabad:Colourful event marked the inauguration of the much awaited mega cultural event of capital city, popularly called ‘Lok Mela,’ on Friday.

The festival is being organised by National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), National History and Literary Heritage Division, in collaboration with all provincial culture departments.

Special attractions of the ‘mela’ feature folk singers, folk entertainers, puppet shows and other entertaining shows are being organised throughout the period of the festival. Display of traditional folk dances from all over Pakistan are held in open air at intervals. Folk entertainers and rural musicians invited from all over the country are performing in the festival. An exotic craft bazaar featuring score of tastefully decorated pavilions offering a variety of knick-knacks, antiques, craft items and cultural materials is also set up at the festival grounds.

The 10-day festival aims at promoting, perpetuating and preserving arts, crafts, culture, folk music and traditional skills of Pakistan. This unique event has now become a symbol of the federation’s recognition and patronage to our rich cultural diversity and active participation of the people. The central focus of Lok Mela is rural Pakistan. The direct beneficiaries are artisans, folk artists, folk musicians and other performers from rural areas and remote regions.

It disseminates the dynamic creativity of our countryside and gives people pride in their identity. The ‘mela’ also places special emphasis on creating provincial harmony and national integration.

Around 500 artisans and folk artists from all parts of the country are attending Lok Mela by bringing with them their creativity in arts, crafts and innovation. The festival promotes master artisans and folk artists by way of giving them a platform to demonstrate their skills. The festival also provides the opportunity to the craftspeople to sell their crafts without involvement of middleman.

The main event of Lok Mela is ‘Dastarbandi and Chadarposhi ceremony’ which will take place on Tuesday, 19th November 19 which will be led by Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Federal Education, Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage.

The ceremony is a symbol of Lok Vira’s sustained campaign to keep the heritage of Pakistan alive and continuing. Artisans-at-work sector remains the core around which the entire festival is built. It highlights the role of peace in crafts and features artisans exhibiting their skills in the process and product of crafts.

Cultural departments of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir are putting up pavilions presenting their indigenous folk culture, artisans, artists and traditional cuisine as link nodes of the festival’s foundational grid.

Earlier, the Secretary National History and Literary Heritage Division, Dr. Nadeem Shafique Malik performed ribbon cutting in front of lawn area and took round of all provincial as well as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan pavilion. Later in evening, Lok Mela diversity show also showcased in open air theatre where renowned folk musicians from different regions of Pakistan enthralled the audience with their mesmerizing voice. Folk musicians who performed in diversity show includes Muskan Noushahi from Punjab, Faiza from Sindh, Jangi Khan from Balochistan, Bashir Lohar from Punjab, Krishan Lal Bhel from Marvari, Dholi group Muhammad Zaman from Punjab and Gata Ghora dance party from Multan. Traditional mouth-watering Pakistani traditional cuisines are also available at the venue of the festival for next 10 days.