Sindh Folk Festival: Local singers enthral audience with performances

Two-day festival concludes amidst traditional musical beats and dance

KARACHI: The participants couldn't help but dance on the second day of Sindh Folk Festival on Sunday to the songs of singers, who captivated the audience with their traditional tunes.

As soon as folk singer Shoukat Ali took the stage to sing a Marwari song, the audience broke into applause and moved to the beats. The melodious singer, who hails from New Chor village in Umerkot district, was dressed up in traditional Thari attire and was accompanied by dandiya dance performers. "This festival is creating awareness among the people about how colourful the province of Sindh is," said the folk singer.



The performances entertained the large number of attendees at the festival, which was organised by the Sindh government's culture, tourism and antiquities department. Just like the first day, people thronged the concluding day of the festival that was held at the National Museum.

Folk artists gave traditional musical performances of murli and matko and entertained the visitors to harmonious tunes.

Artist Faqir Wahid Buksh, a disciple of late Sufi singer Alan Faqir, was in a unique and similar getup as that of his ustaad - a black dress and a topi made of Ajrak. The artist's lively personality made him the centre of attraction of the youth.



"The artists from across the province have joined us to spread the message of love and to let the people know that Sindhis are welcoming people," Buksh told The Express Tribune. "We will forget our identity if we forget our culture." He further said that the language of Bhitai and Sacchal Sarmast is the language of religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and truthfulness.

Other performers at the festival included kamaj player Shakoor Faqir from Chachro, alGhozo player Arbab Allah Bachayo from Shah Karim Bhulri, shehnai player Muhammad Saleem from Karachi, chang player Ali Muhammad, flute player Irfan Ali and chapri dancer Chandi Faqir from Khipro. The artists took turns to showcase their traditional performances on stage.



Among the visitors was Shakeel Ahmed, who came to the festival along with his children. "It is a happy moment that I have brought my children to show them the Sindhi culture, of which we are the caretakers," he said. Ahmed added that the people need to protect and promote the Sindhi culture and such events can play its role to sensitise the youth about the culture of this region.



"Although I'm not Sindhi but I'm still proud of my province's culture, music, artefacts and its people," said Nabiha, while talking to The Express Tribune. She appreciated the local artefacts being sold at various stalls at the festival.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2017.