Pakistan Cultural Week at Lok Virsa concluded on Monday. The event aimed at showcasing unity, peace and harmony among the people through a cultural perspective.
The cultural week gala was organised by the Federal Ministry of National Heritage and Integration in collaboration with Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage), started on January 1 with a grand opening by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
The major focus of this seven-day event was on Potohar region through depiction of its culture and traditions. Representative pavilions of all federating units – Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir by way of presenting their arts, crafts, indigenous folk heritage and folk music enhanced the beauty and landscape of the federal capital for a week.
The other features included exhibition of cultural heritage, art and craft bazaar, folkloric song, dance performances, traditional floats representing all federating units, installation of 24 entrance gates on highways and busy roads, decoration and beautification of different chowks and roundabouts on various themes, stage plays, on-the-spot activities, special attractions for families and children.
Over one hundred artisans in various crafts including embroidery, pottery, tie dye, doll making, lacquer work, khussa making, wood work, wood carving, metal work, shawl weaving, traditional carpets, Ajrak, wax printing, stone work, wooden spoon making, pattu weaving, papier mache, truck art, block printing, needle work and several other fields from all over Pakistan demonstrated their skills at the event in especially designed artistic pavilions.
Regular performances by folk artists, rural musicians and folk dance groups attired in traditional regional costumes were also an integral part of the Pakistan week celebrations. Art enthusiasts thronged the event to get a respite and enjoy the colorful ambience, folk dances, rural music and hoards of art and craft stalls.
A visitor, Faraz Gillani, said, “This is our culture which Lok Virsa truly projected through Pakistan Week, for which its management deserves commendation”, one could see here a Mini Pakistan presented at the heart of capital city with special emphasis on rural life and indigenous folk heritage.”
“We do not go behind the Western culture and try to inculcate awareness among our youth about the importance of Pakistani culture especially in the given circumstances,” he added.
Another visitor Khalida said, “We must also hold such type of activities in the capitals of major countries to promote our soft image in abroad, because only through cultural activities, we can express our feelings in a positive and effective way.”
