Quaid-i-Azam Day: Float displays country’s cultural diversity

Folk music, dances attract people of the capital city .

ISLAMABAD: The capital city witnessed a unique form of celebration this year to mark Quaid-i-Azam’s birth anniversary. A musical float covered in green and white balloons and banners passed through the main roads, turning heads and bringing smiles among the people.

The float started its journey from the old Parade Ground near Parliament house, and went up to F-10 chowk and ventured back to its original venue to celebrate the day.

The float was designed and decorated by National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) and all the artists performing were affiliated with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The float, with the theme “Unity, Faith and Discipline”, represented culture of all the provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir besides displaying photographs of Quaid-i-Azam and his unique belongings. A special function comprising performances of folk artists were arranged. Folk artists presented Dharee, Sammi and Khattak dances all the way on the float. A documentary film on Jinnah was also screened on a large screen.

“I am glad to be a part the event, for which we spent a lot of time and energy and seeing so many people enjoy it has made all the efforts worth it,” said PNCA Performance Director Hassan Raza, who seemed to be much excited.

Qurban Niazi from Punjab, Taj Buledi from Sindh, Akhtar Chinaal from Balochistan, Gulrez Tabassum from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Rukhsana Murtaza from AJK bore the December chill and warmed up the air with their melodic voices by singing patriotic and folk songs.

“It is really heart-warming to see so many people and musicians coming together to celebrate our founding father but it is important that we remember his efforts and apply his principles at all times and not just this one day,” remarked Chinaal.

Sami dance group from Jhelum performed in pairs to the beat of ‘dandiyas’ (sticks), while Dharees dance group from Jhang performed a variant of ‘bhangra’.

A dance group from Peshawar, dressed in red and white, waved red handkerchief in the air and performed the traditional ‘khattak’ dance, while Sunny dance group from Islamabad, performed a dhamaal on the occasion.

PTI steals thunder

Interestingly, as the day came to a close and the participants were getting ready for another round of cultural event — live music, dance — the roaring sounds of speeches by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf leaders from the southern port city of Karachi drowned out the festive sounds of the founding father’s birth anniversary.

Photographic exhibition

A three-day exhibition displaying rare photographs of personal and political life of Muhammad Ali Jinnah started at Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC).

Rare pictures depicting Jinnah’s personal and political life, struggle for Pakistan and international visits are on display.

A good number of people came to the RAC to peep into the life of Quaid.

“The photos are great source of information and inspiration for the people as these [photos] have shown how the founder of Pakistan struggled for achieving a separate homeland”, said Muhammad Hanif a university teacher.

The exhibition will remain open till Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2011.