Over 500 artisans to showcase talent in Lok Mela from tomorrow
Over 500 artisans from all over the country would showcase their crafts and talents in the ten-day long annual Folk Festival (Lok Mela) being arranged by Lok Virsa on April 11 (Friday).
It is an annual feature of Lok Virsa, National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, to hold this activity, giving opportunity to the artists’ community to display their products and talents and get recognition.
The main features of the festival include artisans-at-work exhibition, provincial cultural pavilions, folkloric song and dance ensembles, rural musicians, display by public sector organizations and NGOs, traditional cuisine, craft bazaar and many other attractions.
Lok Virsa’s Executive Director Shahera Shahid informed that the festival will take place from April 11-20 at Lok Virsa Complex.
Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid is likely to inaugurate this mega festival.
The festival would conclude with a colourful award ceremony on Sunday, April 20 and cash prizes will be awarded to the winning craftspeople on the recommendations of a national jury constituted for the purpose.
The Lok Virsa ED apprised that the festival aims at reviving endangered traditional arts and crafts of the country. It will provide an opportunity to craftspeople to display their artisanship at a central place at the federal capital and also to sell their products to public without involvement and exploitation of middleman. It will contribute towards poverty alleviation among poor rural community. The folk artists and musicians will also win recognition of their talent at this important forum.
The festival will also provide an opportunity to the diplomatic community and residents of the twin cities to witness authentic folk musical and cultural entertainment for 10 consecutive days besides buying traditional items.
Shahera Shahid said the focus of the festival is on rural Pakistan; benefiting the master artisans, folk artists, folk musicians and other performers from all the provinces, regions and far-flung areas of Pakistan.
The festival disseminates the dynamic creativity of our countrymen and affords them an exclusive opportunity to display their unique skills.
The major thrust of the festival is to promote harmony and national integration highlighting the contribution of our people in promoting the rich culture of Pakistan, she added.
According to a tradition, she said the festival opens with a Dastarbandi or Chaddar Poshi of an established master craftsman or woman. Dastar is a long cloth wound skilfully around the head that shows respect and enhanced stature.
Dastarbandi has become an integral part of Lok Virsa’s Folk Festival and it depicts honour and pride for its possessor. Lok Virsa honours the most respected master craftsperson every year with a dastar or chaddar.
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