Folk festival opens at Lok Virsa theatre today

Festival aims at expressing solidarity with oppressed people of Palestine

ISLAMABAD:

Ten-day folk festival of Pakistan, popularly known as “Lok Mela” will open on Friday (today).

The event is being organised under the aegis of the National Heritage and Culture Division, Government of Pakistan at Lok Virsa open air theatre.

The festival aims to revive endangered folk arts, crafts and music as well as to promote and safeguard traditional practitioners associated with Pakistan’s folk heritage. It would serve to disseminate the dynamic creativity of our countryside and give rural folk pride in their identity.

The main focus of this festival is to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine. A special stall is also being set up during the festival showcasing Palestinian photographs and merchandize along with a donation box. The mela helps to keep all the units of the federation culturally connected with each other. This festival promotes national unity and solidarity between the federation and the provinces. The festival also provides an opportunity for skilled artisans and craftsmen from across the country to showcase their art at the national level. During this festival, artisans can sell their products directly to the public without any agent and get their fair wages.

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More than 500 skilled artisans and artists from across the country are taking part in the event. Provincial pavilions are central to the festival and are a reflection of the cultural and traditional folk arts, folk food and folk crafts of each province and region. Each province, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir will organise special musical concerts during the festival.

Entry ticket for the Lok Mela is Rs150 per person while the concessional rate for the students is Rs100 per person. The timings of the Lok Mela are from 10 am to 10 pm.

This one-of-its-kind festival will continue to entertain the people of twin cities till November 12 at Lok Virsa Complex Garden Avenue Shakarparian.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2023.