Experts highlight rituals, traditions of Bugti tribe at Lok Virsa

Balochi folk singer performs on the occasion, while scholars analyse rituals

ISLAMABAD: Culture experts at the sixth session of ‘Lok Baithak’ highlighted rituals and traditions of the Bugti tribe at the Media Centre of National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa.

Exploring various aspects of Bugti’s folklore, they discussed the unique cultural heritage at Fortnightly Lok Baithak: Focusing Bugtis’ Folklore.

Sabz Ali Bugti a Balochi folk singer presented melodious Balochi folk tunes while Liaqat Shahwani an analyst from Balochistan and guest speaker Sanaullah Bugti highlighted the traditions and rituals of the Bugti tribe. According to the organisers, the main purpose of the programme was to revive the traditional informal sittings of the traditional and rural communities.

These Lok Baithaks were multifaceted and used to serve the multiple purposes of associationalism, entertainment, social cohesion, knowledge sharing, creation of disciplinarian and organisational spirit and above all hub of promotion of art and culture in the general communities.

Lok Baithak fortnightly series is open to the people of all age groups and multiple ethnicities in the style that they themselves are the speakers and listeners with the Lok Virsa as regulator and facilitator only. Participants are encouraged and allowed to bring their musical instruments and artifacts they specialise in.

They are motivated to share the values, knowledge, wisdom, stories, songs, tales, fables, epics, jokes, traditional games, riddles etc. overall everything falling within the domain of folklore of their respective regions. Amateur singers and musicians among them sing and play music.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2019.