Daachi Festival

A non-profit organisation that promotes the arts and craft of Pakistan.

LAHORE:

Daachi Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes the art and crafts of Pakistan. The foundation hosted an arts and crafts festival at the Al-Hamra Arts council where people from all over the country displayed their work, with a total of 55 stalls of different crafts displayed. According to the foundation they aim to provide a permanent place to the craftsmen at Raiwind Road Lahore on land donated by the founder.

Speaking to The Express Tribune Ayesha Noorani, an architect and founder of Daachi foundation said: “This is our first fund raising event. Daachi aims to sponsor craftsmen. We plan to establish a village where the dying crafts will be promoted. We are not only promoting crafts but traditional foods and folk music too; there will be workshops on learning these crafts so that they can be passed on to the next generation.”

Soghat-e-Gulrang is a beautiful floral colored panel, displayed by an NCA graduate. The artist said: “I have showed all the colors of Sindh in this panel. It shows the beauty of the medium as ceramic is not all about sanitary wares! My inspiration was the Sindhi Ralli.” Daada Ali displayed handmade shawls and ‘pattu’ (handmade cloth) from Hunza. He said that he is the only person under 50 years of age in this line of work — the craft is dying. Beena Ali from Karachi displayed her work of ceramics based on decorative pieces, bells and mirrors. The work by the students from Naqsh School of Art were also displayed. The work of the craftsmen was displayed in the garden of the Al-Hamra. More than 50 craftsmen were present. The visitors were supportive of the exhibit and a fair amount was sold on the opening day. “I really like the wonderful work and I really like the carpets displayed on a stall from Tharpaarkar. They are very exotic and I have planned to buy two small pieces and I wish I could purchase some more,” said one of the visitors.

There were stalls of truck art, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro clay pots, embroidery, bangles and pottery. All the art and craft pieces were available at very reasonable prices. The festival will continue till March 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2011.