Lok Mela concludes with colourful award ceremony

Islamabad :Ten-day folk festival (Lok Mela) of country with over 500 artists and craftspeople from all four provinces and two administrative regions of the country came to a glamorous conclusion here at Lok Virsa on Sunday evening with an awards distribution ceremony for the skilled folk artists and artisans, says a press release.

Artisans and artists had over the past ten days demonstrated an array of cultural skills from singing, cooking traditional cuisines and performing folk tunes to dancing and preparing traditional crafts from Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Punjab and Sindh in their respective pavilions.

Kashmiri artisans and artists who received cash awards were Azra Kausar, Muhammad Siddique in Kashmiri Shawl and Muhammad Ijaz Gatka player.

From Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), winning artisans and artists who received cash awards were Shehzadi in cross stitch, Sultana Iqbal in Hunza Embroidery and Kashif Sajjad Dadang player.

Artisans from Sindh who received cash awards include Sumela in farasi weaving, Imdad Ali Vigheo in block making, Rahiba Rind in bate leaves basketry, Zikarya in ajrak making, Fiza Ali Folk singer, Sattar Jogi Murli player, Sain Daad Matko dancer and Ajmal Dandia dance group.

From Balochistan, Arz Muhammad Saroz maker, Gul Seema Gofta maker, Atifa Sadiq Hazargi Embroidery, Daad Muhammad Hasani animal stuffing, Liaqat Parkoi Brahvi singer, Muhammad Ali Dholak player, Ali Ahmed Banjo player and Muhammad Bashir Brahvi singer.

From Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Rehmat Wali (special person) kalash wood carving, Tasleem Bibi Phulkari, Muhammad Khalil Karakuli topi, Riaz Ahmed Wax printing, Aisha Waseem D.I. Khan embroidery, Zainullah Chirali sitar player, Ijaz Sarhadi sarinda player and Ayaz Khan harmonium player were winners.

From Punjab, Kaneez Fatima Basketry maker, Muhammad Ramzan Khusa maker, Muhammad Ibrahim Lacquer art, Muhammad Zaman Dhol shahnai group, Ahmad Ali Folk singer, Sitara Lal Marwari singer and Munnu Ji Ranti player took prizes home.

Parliamentary Secretary for National History and Literary Heritage Division, Ghazala Saifi was the chief guest of award distribution ceremony. She appreciated the efforts of Lok Virsa to bring the rural masses from each corner of the country to the federal capital and enriching its beauty and attraction.

During the award ceremony, a number of cash awards were given to the most authentic artists and artisans on the recommendation of a Lok Virsa jury which comprised knowledgeable experts in the field of art and culture.

A large number of people flocked to the fair to view cultures from different parts of Pakistan. Apart from showcasing the culture from all the regions of the country, the ten-day cultural fair provided a source of entertainment to citizens of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.