8th Sindh Literature Festival opens in Karachi

KARACHI:

The 8th Sindh Literature Festival commenced on Saturday at the Beach Luxury Hotel, organised by the Sindh Literature Foundation under the theme "Celebrate the Power of the World." The two-day event brings together literary enthusiasts, cultural performers, scholars, and youth achievers from across the province.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah who praised Sindh as a land of tolerance, forgiveness, patience, peace, and love, home to Sufi saints like Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Sachal Sarmast. "The Sindhi language is now available on Google, and its translation can easily be done," he added.

During the festival, traditional dance performances and stalls featuring Ajrak, Rilli, and Sindhi caps highlighted Sindh's rich cultural heritage. Visitors, including women, actively explored these stalls, choosing items to buy and engaging with local arts and crafts.

Speakers at the festival addressed a wide range of topics including the Parsi community's contributions to Karachi's heritage, the importance of resistance literature, link between literature and education, rights of transgender individuals, preserving history and culture.

The festival will continue on Sunday with literary sessions, cultural programmes, and a musical performance by Sanam Marvi.

The festival remains free for the public, encouraging citizens to celebrate the province's rich literary and cultural heritage.