Craft of the month: Artisans train students in weaving craft

ISLAMABAD:

The seven-day weaving craft programme organised by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) concluded on Sunday.

It was part of the series of programmes that Lok Virsa is currently holding under the title “Craft of the Month” with a objective to promote traditional skills, giving knowledge to younger generation about the importance and utility of different crafts and provide opportunity to the youth to learn about Pakistan’s rich, diverse and pluralistic cultural tapestry.

It also encourages youth to value dignity of labour, foster ownership for their culture, create respect for different professions and character building. It helped understand the contribution of artisans in the sustainable development of their community and country at large.

A total of 45 students from the schools running under the administrative control of Federal Directorate of Education and other educational institutions participated in the programme and learnt craft making techniques from master trainers between 21 and 27 December, 2015, at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology “Heritage Museum”.

The six master artisans who provided training to children were Parri Bibi in dying craft field of Farasi (floor rug) from remote village Bagh Ali in district Badin, Sindh, Shah Behram in Taghar (floor rug) and Hussain Khan in traditional carpet weaving from far-flung areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sarfraz in Khes, Durree and Khaddar from Kamalia, Punjab, Deedar Ali in Pattu (woollen strip) and Shah Faqir in Sharma (floor rug) from Karimabad, Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan and Fazle Wahab in shawl weaving from Swat valley.

The 70-year old Parri Bibi said “it was a great experience of working with Lok Virsa and teaching craft making techniques to children. They were keen to know each and everything involved in the process. I tried to transfer my knowledge to them in an interactive manner. Some children were very intelligent and they got a lot in a little time”.

Another artisan Shah Behram said that the experience of teaching children was fantastic. He said that though he has trained young boys in his native town in Tank but holding training classes with children of a developed urban area like Islamabad was a unique and memorable.

Dr Fouzia Saeed, Executive Director, Lok Virsa, said Pakistani children have great potential to learn knowledge about culture which attracts them a lot.

The next program on block printing will be held from January 4-10, 2016.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2015.