Families throng Hayatabad on first day of Hunar Mela

TCKP has organised event for skilled women to market handicrafts, boost income

PESHAWAR: A large number of women, children and families visited the Hunar Mela, or Artisans at Work on the first day of the three-day event that kicked off at the PIA Planetarium in Hayatabad on Friday.

The Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) has organised the event for the skilled entrepreneurs, particularly females to market their handicrafts and boost income of their families.

Artisans from all the regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are participating in the event, said a press release. Stalls have been established to display handicrafts, embroidery, Taghar work, Bannu Royal Khaadi, stone carving, Peshawari caps, wax painting, metal work, wood carving, artwork, calligraphy, ring making, sitar making, Chitrali Patti, Gandhara Art, Drooza chappal, Sarghashay, Charsadda chappal, maizaray work, Karawa work, Sarkha, Dandas, Parunay, pottery work, blacksmith work, Hazara Jisti Shawl and Moti work and a lot of other items.

The skilled women are also imparting training to the visiting females so that they could be able to make handicrafts, embroidery and other cultural items.

The stalls for the traditional and local food and cuisine have also been established, which are offering Chapli Kabab, Biryani and others.

Concert, traditional dances and activities like food competitions, stage, hujra, magic, puppet and juggler shows, games, art exhibitions and kids play area are also part of the event.

The visitors are evincing keen interest in each and every item and segment of the exhibition.Traditional Khattak, Mehsud, Attan, Chitrali, Gatka, Attan Ball and Bangash dances were performed at the evening besides the instrumental stage show of Rabab-Mangay (Tang Takor).

Cooking contests were held in which a number of women participated. Makha, weight lifting and other family competitions like quiz and singing were also held.The magic, juggler and puppet shows were also part of the unique event in addition to daily musical evening. Pashto and Hindko music programmes are also part of the event.