Lok Virsa while arranging the 6-day ‘Potohar Folk Music Festival’ continued to attract large crowds from twin cities at its complex on Tuesday evening. Started on Sunday, the festival is being organised by Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage), in collaboration with Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Talking to Pakistan Today, Lok Virsa’s Executive Director Khalid Javaid said the festival aimed at documenting, preserving and projecting the rich musical heritage of the Potohar region. It featured folk music, Potohari Bait, folk drummers, folk poetry and talk shows, etc. The special attractions on Tuesday evening were folk musical shows, Potohari Bait, traditional dhol performance, poetry recitals by Potohari poets, etc.
The participants who performed on the first day included Arshad Mehmood Group, Potohari Bait by Khadim Ali, Namberdar Ghulam Murtaza on Chimta, traditional dhol performance by Bashir and Amjad, traditional poetry recitals by Malik Shamshas, Malik Zeeshan Sadiq and chit chat by Raja Amjad Mahmood. Folk performances such as stick dance, Sammi dance and comical skits were also presented at the festival. Potohari poets also entertained the audience with their regional humorous poetry. Explaining the background of the event, Javaid said, “Lok Virsa being a specialized cultural body at federal level is trying to highlight and project the beautiful culture, arts, crafts and musical heritage of all federating units, regions and remote areas in its various programme activities with a view to give them equal representation at the national level.” This festival focusing on folk music of Potohar is also a step forward in this direction, he added. Previously, Lok Virsa has also successfully organised a grand folk festival “Lok Mela” in June this year at Islamabad with participation by artists from all the provinces.
