Cultural activities remain in full swing

Al-Hamra Centre draws art, music enthusiasts through diverse events

LAHORE:

Cultural activities are in full swing in the provincial capital with a variety of events providing opportunities to the artists to showcase their talent and the citizens getting ample entertainment facilities.

The most important centre of artistic activities is Lahore Arts Council, located on the historic Mall Road. The Al-Hamra Art Centre hosted a 10-day national art exhibition.

Renowned artist Saeed Akhtar and Al-Hamra Centre Chairperson Muneza Hashmi inaugurated the exhibition along with Executive Director Ejaz Ahmad Minhas.

As many as 130 works by 107 artists were displayed at the exhibition that concluded on November 26. A catalogue of artwork was also published on the occasion.

Paintings by renowned artists of the country like Jamil Naqsh, Ismail Gulji, Iqbal Hussain and Shami Ahmed were displayed in the exhibition. The visitors got an opportunity to see the work of RM Naeem, Jamal Shah, Ahmad Khan, Dr Rahat Naveed Masood, Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi and other famous artists.

Similarly, a splendid exhibition was organised on the occasion of World Islamic Art Day. Khana Farhang Iran Director General Jafar Roshnas and Turkish Cultural Centre Director Olash Ertaash visited the exhibition to see the artifacts, antiques and other items on display.

A concert was also organised in the memory of world renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz on his 37th death anniversary. Artistes paid homage to Faiz by reciting his poetry. Famous singers Abdul Rauf and Tahseen Sajid sang Faiz's ghazals including Gulon mein rang bhare, Aye kuch Abr and Kidhre na pendiyan dasan we pardesiya.

The 552nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was also celebrated with fervour. Painting competitions, seminars and music programmes were organized to mark the occasion. A painting competition was organised at Al-Hamra Gallery.

A delegation of 50 students of Home Economics College visited Al-Hamra Hall and saw the masterpieces displayed in the national exhibition.

On the other hand, a session was organised at the arts on the right to information and services for journalists. The Al-Hamra executive director briefed the participants on the programme ‘Rasai’. Chief Information Commissioner Mehboob Qadir, Dr Altafullah Khan and Dr Rachel Arunahsan spoke on the occasion.

A large number of journalists participated in the awareness session.

Al-Hamra also hosted the 27th Asian Excellence Performance Awards, with colourful performances by artistes and singers. Provincial Minister for Prisons Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan and Minister for Culture Khayal Ahmed Castro were special guests. In addition to dance and drumming, Kale Khan and his team performed Qawwali, while singers Sher Miandad, Anwar Rafi, Saman Sheikh and Shahida Mini also evoked the magic of their voices.

The ministers and Sohail Bukhari distributed awards among artistes including Anwar Rafi, Kale Khan, Sher Miandad, Shahida Mini, Rashid Mahmood, Abbas Jutt and Wajid Ali.

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar organised a function at Governor House to acknowledge the services of overseas Pakistanis in different countries. During the ceremony, Rehan Siddiqui, a renowned music promoter, was awarded the Most Popular Overseas Pakistani Award by the governor for highlighting Pakistani culture and tourism in the United States and business activities in Pakistan.

After the theatres, the activities in cinemas have also been restored.

After a period of two years, the movie ‘Khel Khel Mein’ was released in cinemas. The screening of the movie is going on in several cinemas of Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2021.