Dastarbandi, chadorposhi ceremony held at Lok Virsa

Sarinda player, basket maker win the honour of turban and chador respectively

ISLAMABAD: A turban for an outstanding male performer and a chador for the best female artiste is the high-point of the annual Lok Mela.

Known as Dastarbandi and Chaddarposhi, the award event highlights colours of all regions.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sarinda player Ijaz Sarhadi won the honour of dastarbandi, while master artisan from Punjab Kaneez Fatima received Chaddarposhi.

Sarhadi belongs to famous family of Sarinda players from K-P. Sarhadi is not only keeping the tradition of Sarinda player alive but transmitting the art to the fourth generation of his family.

Fatima, master of basketry is from the Silanwali area of Sargodha. She is 53 years old having a vast experience of 37 years in basketry. Making mats and baskets is one of the oldest and widely practiced crafts in Pakistan, especially from those areas where fibrous plants grow in abundance. She is also transferring this craft to the next generation.

Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage, Shafqat Mahmood said folk artistes and artisans were the true face of Pakistan and we were proud of them. These ceremonial gestures, Lok Virsa paid tribute to the services of artisans, artists keeping in view their contribution to the cultural heritage of the country.

While appreciating the services of artistes and artisans, the minister said that these people were striving hard to preserve indigenous folk traditions, promoting and projecting them at the national and international levels.

Later, the minister visited pavilions of Lok Mela where he encouraged and appreciated artisans at work and artists performing live in pavilions.

Around 500 artisans and artists from different parts including remotest regions are participating in the Lok Mela, bringing with them their creativity in arts, crafts and innovation.

The main features of the mela include Provincial Cultural Pavilions.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2019.