A dance group performs at the Karachi Mubarak Festival on Saturday night. PHOTO: AYSHA SALEEM/ EXPRESS
It was near dusk, with the sky growing dark in the distance, when Aladin Amusement Park transformed into a melting pot of cultures. The diverse populace of Karachi gathered at the park to revere the spirit of the city. KMF is an attempt to celebrate the cultural flamboyance of Karachi through music, art and dance.
The event kicked off with a marching band ushering people into the ground. It was followed by a series of performances to highlight the mix of ethnicities in Karachi.
The first performance was a Balochi dance followed by a Sindhi dance. The flamboyant performers set the stage ablaze with their quirky moves on the traditional tunes.
The next performance was given by LOL Waalay. The improvisational comedy troupe not only gave a riveting performance but also engaged the audience in their act to make them feel a part of their troupe. The whimsical jokes of the troupe made the audience burst into laughter from the beginning till the end.
The performers in the Pashtu dance were garbed in traditional Pukhtun outfits with a red jacket embroidered with golden beads. Their performance was soothing to the eyes as the lights on the stage became blurred and the effect of the sparkling golden beads formed a surreal view.
Performers from 'We Are One', a group of five strangers brought together by MAD School's Lyari Star Project' gave a performance on Pakistani pop songs. It was followed by 'The Mobsters', a dance group of 10 teenagers.
The last performance was given by the Punjabi dancers who enthralled the audience with their moves on the tunes of traditional Punjabi music. The event concluded with the performance of Mai Nimani, a singer from Thar.
The diversity of the festival was a close depiction of the Karachi that 'I Am Karachi' campaign wants to achieve. Nida Butt, the director of festival, was positive about the future of the city.
"We have lived under the shadow of violence for a long time and the 'I Am Karachi' campaign is a social and cultural response to this problem," said Butt. "Karachi Mubarak Festival is an endeavour backed by 'I Am Karachi' to reclaim our public spaces and fill them with arts, culture, theatre and sports."
She urged the audience to be a part of upcoming sessions of KMF to be organised in various parts of Karachi. "I invite all residents of Karachi to come out with their families on May 10 and May 16 to join us at Frere Hall and Port Grand, respectively," Butt said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2015.
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