Lok Mela annual folk festival starts Nov 6

Aims to bring forth talent of rural artisans, folk artistes

ISLAMABAD:

National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) has finalised its preparations to hold 10-day annual Lok Mela from November 6 to 15.

Minister for National Heritage and Culture Shafqat Mahmood will inaugurate the festival.

The festival aims at promoting indigenous folk heritage, creating harmony among all federating units and providing a platform to artisans, folk artists and rural performers to get recognition of their talent at national level.

According to an official, the main features include provincial cultural pavilions, folkloric song and dance performances, exotic craft bazaar, folk cuisine, cultural nights, folkloric performance and other many attractions.

The 10-day folk festival would focus on provincial harmony and national integration while highlighting the contribution of our people in building the future of our country. He said that to make Lok Mela entertaining and attractive all preparations has been finalised.

He said that culture departments of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and diplomatic community have been invited to set up pavilions presenting their indigenous folk culture, artisans, folk artists and traditional cuisine as link nodes of the festival's foundation grid.

Special attractions featuring folk singers, folk entertainers and other entertaining shows have been organised to make festival colourful and attractive.

Folk entertainers and rural musicians are invited from all over the country to participate in the festival.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2020.