ISLAMABAD: Culture pavilions of different provinces are the major attractions of the Lok Mela organised by the Lok Virsa.
The pavilion of the province of Sindh that is displaying the rich culture and traditional architecture of the land of Sufi saints seems to be a rather popular one. It was at the centre of interest of the people who thronged the venue to view and enjoy the cultural heritage of different regions of Pakistan.
Coordinated by the Sindh Culture Department, over one hundred participants including master artisans in various craft fields, folk artists, rural musicians, instrumentalists and folk dance groups are participating in Lok Mela to exhibit their cultural heritage.
Sindh is famous for a wide range of folk crafts like lacquer art, farasi weaving, blue pottery, Sindhi embroidery, ajrak, block printing, traditional carpet weaving, appliqué work, tie-dye, khes weaving, wood works, Thari embroidery among several other things, all of which have been showcased at the venue.
The artisans who were seen displaying their craftsmanship included blue pottery maker Qadir Bukhsh Jani, khes weaver Zahid as well as Khadim Hussain, Soleman, Bharat, Naeem, Siani, Safia, Khanzaadi, Bashir, Khan Chand, Bhawan, Naseem Sultan, Gheno, Krishan, Bhano and Ghulam Ahmed.
Other features of the Sindh pavilion include a bookstall arranged, thari embroidery display and Sindhi bangles.
People also enjoyed the province’s traditional cuisine including items such as Sindhi falooda, Shikarpuri achar, Sindhi Biryani and Larkana maiva among others.
Later in the evening, a musical night was held at the venue’s open-air theatre. The music was a mix of folk and Sufi music.
Eminent folk singers including Tufail Sanjrani, Reshama Perveen, Imtiaz Ali Meerasi, Bushra Marvi, Sadaa Bahaar, Shaukat Al, Naroodha, and Waahid Baksh were lead singers along many other rising stars.
The government of Sindh’s Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department Secretary Ghulam Akbar Laghari and Lok Virsa Executive Director (ED) Shaheera Shahid were chief guests of the musical night.
