Double play: Celebrating the colours of Kashmir and Iran

Solidarity with Kashmiris expressed; Iran celebrates 33rd anniversary of revolution.

ISLAMABAD:

The rain may have deterred some to go out and about, but many supporting the Kashmir cause showed up to fill the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) auditorium.

First up was a short play by the National Performing Arts Group (NPAG) with the title “Theray Huay Lamhay” (frozen moments) showcasing the plight of Kashmiris. The thought-provoking play was followed by Wasif Iftikhar on santoor, presenting the well-known tune “Meri watan teri janat mein aiyen ge hum” (My country, my heaven, we will join you soon).

Ishtiaq added lyrics to the event as he performed the naghma “janay kab houn gay kum is dunya keh ghum” (Who knows when the world’s tragedies will end).

Ghulam Muhammad played Kashmiri tunes on the sarangi; many recognised the traditional Kashmiri tunes and cheered the music. While one thought that the instrumental performances might have dragged on for too long, along came an enthusiastic dance performance by the NPAG, as they swirled to the steps of a traditional Kashmiri dance.

The main star of the show was a 14-year-old-girl from Muzaffarabad, Bano Rehman, who performed gojri folk songs.

Last but not least was Iranian artist Pyam Azizi who performed Iqbal’s kalam in Farsi. To end the event on a lighter note, a bhangra dance was performed by NPAG.

33rd anniversary of the 1979 revolution

The Iranian embassy also had something to celebrate at PNCA, marking the 33rd anniversary of the 1979 revolution with an ongoing exhibition to introduce people to Iranian culture.

Amid a gallery decked with Persian carpets and walls adorned with pictures of famous Iranian people and places, one felt like having stepped into an Iranian home as the hosts offered cups of green tea at the “kawa khana”, a corner set with small glass tea sets and large golden pots to pour tea from.

The gallery is set with everything and anything that symbolises Iranian culture -- traditional folk art consisting of handmade mina kari plates from Isfahan, khatam kari, which consists of delicate patterns that are set by hand onto wooden boxes, and stone and brass pottery with carved figures giving the brass and stone a medieval appearance.

Among the Persian carpets, one notices the Kalamkari which is an exquisite ancient craft of painted and printed fabrics. Most of the art work was indigenous to Isfahan, as the event organiser Kishawaraz explained to The Express Tribune, “In Iran we have a saying that there is not a place on earth that is more beautiful than Isfahan, and that is why the art that initiates from there is beautiful and delicate.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2012.