The three-day Huner Mela – artists at work – ended with the melodious notes struck by singer Sara Raza Khan on Sunday.
The event which witnessed the biggest crowd ever for Peshawar was organised by Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at PIA Planetarium near Ghani Bagh Phase 2 Hayatabad.
The visitors, including women, children and families enjoyed the traditional Hazara, Kalash Khattak, Mehsud, Attan, Chitrali, Gatka, Attan Ball and Bangash dances and the music performed by Hamayun Khan, Bakhtiyar Khan, Banu Rehmat and Sara Raza Khan.
The three-day artisans at work festival included 50 stalls of traditional handicrafts and food. The stalls were manned by artisans from Chitral, Kohistan, Kalash, Bannu, Dir, Swat, Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi and other regions who displayed handicrafts, embroidery, Taghar work, Bannu Royal Khaadi, stone carving, Peshawari caps, wax painting, metal work, wood carving, artwork, calligraphy, ring making, sitar making, Chitrali Patti, Gandhara Art, Drooza chappal, Sarghashay, Charsadda chapal, maizaray work, Karawa work, Sarkha, Dandas, Parunay, pottery work, blacksmith work, Hazara Jisti Shawl and Moti work and much more. In food items, the stalls showcased Ghatai Rojai, Saag and Jowar ki roti, Painda, Chapal Kabab, barbecue, Mardan Pairai and other sweets of the region.
A separate pavilion was set up for the Kalash, which represented their unique culture and traditions. For many people it was the main attraction, stated Saima Ali, a visitor from Peshawar city who had come especially to Hayatabad to attend the event.
Depicting the culture of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a Hujra was also set, which showed males sitting sipping green tea and narrating stories to the younger generations, said Murad Khan, another visitor who had come to the festival with his teenage children. He further remarked that “this is the first time the children witnessed a Hujra Culture and enjoyed it tremendously”, adding that it was also a great learning experience for them.
The biggest highlight of the event was the fireworks which went on for ten minutes, mesmerising the audience.
