The popular Punjabi romantic folk tale of “Heer Ranjha” has been enacted in a 3-dimensional diorama here at Lok Virsa Heritage Museum. The display has been featured in the “Hall of Ballads and Romances”.
One can see Ranjha playing flute under a tree. Heer sits besides him, listening to the melody of his music, both clad in brightly coloured outfits. Heer carries a traditional hand fan (punkhi).
A pot (chati) containing lassi is seen with bread that Heer has brought for Ranjha.
As the legend goes, Ranjha, an idealistic young man, sets off from home to meet and win the heart of Heer, a famed beauty.
She hears him play his flute, and falls in love with his music. However, her family wishes to get her married to someone else. Ranjha becomes a hermit. When at last, Heer’s father grants her permission, Heer’s brother and uncle conspire to keep them apart.
They give Heer a drink dowsed in poison. Two days later, as Ranjha arrives with his wedding procession, he hears of her death and kills himself by her grave.
“Lok Virsa is a storehouse of folk literature carrying the collection of tales passed from generation-to-generation and from the old to the young by oral tradition,” said Executive Director Khalid Javaid.
Visitors said the diorama fit in well with the museum’s theme and added to its attraction.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2011.
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