The 6-day Potohar Folk Music Festival which started last Sunday at Lok Virsa Complex, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, was successfully concluded on Friday. The festival was organised by Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage) of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
The special attractions included performances by Arshad Mehmood’s group, Potohari bait by Khadim Ali, Namberdar Ghulam Murtaza performing on Chimta, a traditional dhol performance by Bashir and Amjad, and traditional poetry recitals by Malik Shamshas and Malik Zeeshan Sadiq, chit chat by Raja Amjad Mahmood, and Luddi dance and Sammi dance performances, etc. Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid said, “The festival contributed significantly to documenting, preserving and projecting the rich cultural and musical heritage of the Potohar region.” He also announced that Lok Virsa would hold a folk festival on the model of its annual Lok Mela in Sialkot between 28 October and 1 November featuring artisans-at-work exhibitions, song and dance performances, cultural pavilions, traditional cuisine stalls, craft bazaars and many other attractions. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan will formally open the festival on 28 October at Football Ground, Gondar Road, Marakiwal, Sialkot.
Talking to Pakistan Today, a female student from a local academic institution said, “The Potohar festival at Lok Virsa truly represents the cultural identity of the people of northern Punjab. It is a great service of Lok Virsa as this was the first ever event in Islamabad dedicated to the Potohar region.” The other event called “Islamabad Cultural Festival” that Lok Virsa is currently holding in association with the private sector at Islamabad will continue till 16 October.
