Arts councils to celebrate Punjab Culture Day

Colourful events also planned at educational institutions

LAHORE:

All the arts councils, local governments, the culture department and educational institutions in the province have planned colourful activities to celebrate the Punjab Culture Day on Tuesday.

The main programmes to mark the day will be organised the arts councils. The Alhamra Arts Council building has been decorated to host a major event in the provincial capital. Banners and posters highlighting various aspect of the culture of Punjab have been displayed on the building.

Extensive preparations to celebrate the province’s culture have also been made by the arts councils in Gujranwala, Murree, Faisalabad, Sargodha and Rawalpindi.

According to a spokesperson for Alhamra Arts Council, "The Punjab Culture Day will be celebrated under the auspices of the department of information and culture. The programmes of Punjab Cultural Festival will feature cultural narratives of Punjab, folk music, Sufi dance performances, Bhangra and Kafi singing.

Popular artistes, including Arif Lohar, Fazal Jutt, Sain Zahoor and Saima Jahan, will perform at Alhamra, the spokesperson added.

Alhamra Council Chairman Qasim Ali Shah said Punjab has one of the oldest and richest cultures in the world. Its uniqueness is evident in Punjabi poetry, philosophy, spirituality, art, music, food, architecture, traditions, values and history.

The centre’s Executive Director Nazia Jabeen said,”We aim to present Punjab's culture to the whole world through various events.”

The Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture will also host programmes to celebrate the day. Stalls and musicals events will be organised at PILAC building, where folk singers will perform.

Provincial Local Government Secretary Dr Irshad Ahmad issued instructions to the department to celebrate the culture day across the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2023.