Lok mela 2018: Folk musicians perform for a jam-packed audience

Sheikh Rasheed applauds artistic talent at the festival

ISLAMABAD: The Folk Festival, popularly known as Lok Mela, is in full swing where Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cultural night attracted a large crowd. The festival beautifully showcased the indigenous folk culture of all four provinces depicting their arts, crafts, folk music and traditional cuisine.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) pavilion hosted their cultural night which featured popular folk artists, folk musicians including Singers Kainat, Sitara Yousaf, Bakhtiar Khattak, Khalid Malik, Asmat Gul, Tabla Player Ajmal Khan, Rubab Player Tariq Khan, Harmonium Player Ayaz Khan and others.



A large number of people from different walks of life including families and youth attended the cultural night and enjoyed the thrilling performances, presented by the artists. It was a jam-packed show.

The pavilion also offered other tasty varieties of traditional food like `patta seekh' and `lamb karahi' all washed down with a cup of `qehwa' (green tea) with a hint of cardamom being brewed in `samavar' at Nemat Khan Qehwa Khana.



In close proximity, a `Hujra' had been created wherein musicians were presenting folk Pushto music ‘Tank Takor’ whilst playing traditional musical instruments like `rabab', table and harmonium.

A visitor, Farheen Zaheer said, “One can see glimpses from every corner of Pakistan created in the lush green surroundings of the Shakarparian Hills. The hills contribute significantly to enhance the stature, beauty and landscape of the federal capital.”

Gilgit musical evening is scheduled to be held on Saturday at 2pm whereas ‘Lok Mela’ is going on with all its festivities from 10am to 10pm till November 13, 2018.

Minister visits Lok Mela

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Shafiq on Friday said that the cultural diversity of Punjab prevailed everywhere and its artisans always presented a positive image of not only Punjab, but the entire country. He stated this while visiting Punjab pavilion at Folk Festival of Pakistan.



The Minister took a keen interest at every stall and inquired artisans about their craft. He expressed that he felt pleasure to see artisans from all over Punjab doing such remarkable and creative work, and went on to applaud their talent. He said that artisans at work from Pakistan's largest province by population are a source of attraction for the visitors, because of the vibrant colours they use in their art.

Over 50 craftsmen and craftswomen have displayed their crafts carrying centuries old craft techniques for bone work, lacquer art, tile work, tie and dye, block printing, wood carving, darree and khaddar weaving, basketry, pottery, embroidery and needle work, 'zardozi', metal work, and shoe-making which were all displayed on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2018.