Orange festival draws diplomatic crowd

WAH CANTT:

Diplomats stationed in Islamabad, along with their families, immersed themselves in Pakistan's rich cultural heritage this weekend by attending the 13th Orange Festival in Taxila, a historic centre of the ancient Gandhara and Buddhist civilisations.

Hosted at the Zaildar House, the cultural event offered foreign guests an authentic experience of traditional Pakistani life, featuring local cuisine, black-stone carving artistry, rhythmic horse dance performances and the indigenous sport of stone lifting.

The festival also showcased Khanpuri oranges - a regional speciality - which drew particular interest from visiting families and children.

The Orange Festival has been organised for more than a decade by social figures Zaildar Ahsan Shah and Zaildar Zaheer Shah, who have consistently used the platform to introduce foreign diplomats to the cultural depth and historical significance of Taxila.

Stalls displaying replicas of Gandhara art, handcrafted jewellery, and marble and stone pottery received wide appreciation, while traditional local delicacies, including paan and gol gappay, proved popular among international visitors.

The 13th edition of the festival was attended by ambassadors and diplomats from more than 50 countries.