Kashmir Solidarity Day: Celebrating the brave spirit
Cultural programmes and festival organised to support Kashmiris.
Students performing folk tunes and dance at RAC (top). Kashmiri dolls and handicrafts on display at Lok Virsa. PHOTO: EXPRESS
MIRPUR/RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD:
To commemorate the Kashmir Day, a large number of students performed cultural music and stage plays at Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) on Tuesday.
Over 500 students from 13 schools of Rawalpindi gathered to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. Attired in traditional Kashmiri embroidered outfits and accessories, they livened up the atmosphere with their performances. A singing and skit completion also brought forth the colours of Kashmir.
In the singing category, students of Springle House School bagged the first position, Woods Montessori bagged the second position and Federal Government Girls Secondary School Lalazar bagged the third position while Divisional Public School Girls branch bagged the fourth prize.
In the skits competition, Woods Montessori bagged the first position, Springle House bagged the second position, Eden School bagged the third position while Aims School bagged the fourth prize.
Woods Montessori Managing Director Sohail Dar said the students were elated to win the competitions. He underscored the value of such events, saying that they help explain the topic in friendly manner. “Unless we make learning interactive, we won’t be able to teach them beyond books and literature,” he said.
Dar also appreciated a skit based on the theme of peace. “We want to tell our children that the greatest problems can be resolved by airing out issues rather than using weapons,”he said.
Amina Kamal, student of Federal Government Girls Secondary School Lalazar, said that despite the rain and public holiday, many children were enjoying the competitions. “Such events are extremely informative and they teach us lessons that we don’t learn otherwise. Of course watching a subject in a colorful light engages everyone and its educational for children of all ages and grades,” she said.
Green Task Force Chairman Dr Jamal Nasir was the guest of honor. He along with other officials of RAC including, adjudged the competition. “A sustainable resolution of the problem will only be possible if the aspirations of the Kashmiris are taken into account,” remarked Nasir.
Cultural festival
Meanwhile, a day-long festival was organised at Lok Virsa to mark the day. A group of Kashmiri artists set up cultural stalls and musicians added a cheerful aura to the event. However the programme was a bit delayed due to the downpour.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for National Heritage and Integration Samina Khalid Ghurki, said, “Pakistan will continue to support the cause of Kashmir. We have been celebrating Kashmir Day at national level since 1990 and are continuously trying to highlight the Kashmir issue to the international community.”
She added culture is an important tool which can effectively focus contribution of Kashmiris.
Kashmiri singers such as Subhan Rather, Rukhsana Murtaza, Haleema Bibi, Gulzar Shireen and Bano Rehmat enthralled the audience with Kashmiri folk tunes. A santoor player Ghulam Muhammad Dar played soulful music for the crowd.
The visitors seemed to be enjoying themselves at the event. “I think people have become detached with the Kashmir situation. Instead of enjoying the public holiday elsewhere, they should be here to show solidarity,” said Mohammad Irfan, a banker.
At the food stalls, some enjoyed traditional delights such as rista, roghan josh, tabaq mas, aloo gosht and goshtaba, and pink Kashmiri tea.
Some families could be seen bargaining to purchase Kashmiri shawls, gem stones, brightly- embroidered pillow and cushion covers and woodwork while others managed to bought large Kashmiri rugs. The festival lasted till the evening.
A large number of NGOs and government organisations set up their and expressed solidarity with Kashmiri people by displaying their products and banners bearing slogans. The festival was organised by Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Rallies, seminars
The day was observed with zeal and fervour in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. People took out rallies, attended seminars and reaffirmed support with their subjugated countrymen.
A moment of silence was also observed to pay homage to the valiant struggle of Kashmiris. A human chain was also formed on all the five bridges, including Mangla, Kohala, Dhalkot, Azad Pattan, and Holar besides at Bararkot, the entering points which connect Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with Pakistan. Thousands of people belonging to AJK and Pakistan gathered at these bridges participated to form the human chain.
A large number of people belonging to all walks of life reached Mangla Bridge in a big procession. While addressing, the speakers called upon the world community to ensure a peaceful solution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions. They said the sacrifices being offered by the valiant Kashmiri people would not go waste. The speakers demanded that India should immediately stop human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir
With additional information from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.
To commemorate the Kashmir Day, a large number of students performed cultural music and stage plays at Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) on Tuesday.
Over 500 students from 13 schools of Rawalpindi gathered to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. Attired in traditional Kashmiri embroidered outfits and accessories, they livened up the atmosphere with their performances. A singing and skit completion also brought forth the colours of Kashmir.
In the singing category, students of Springle House School bagged the first position, Woods Montessori bagged the second position and Federal Government Girls Secondary School Lalazar bagged the third position while Divisional Public School Girls branch bagged the fourth prize.
In the skits competition, Woods Montessori bagged the first position, Springle House bagged the second position, Eden School bagged the third position while Aims School bagged the fourth prize.
Woods Montessori Managing Director Sohail Dar said the students were elated to win the competitions. He underscored the value of such events, saying that they help explain the topic in friendly manner. “Unless we make learning interactive, we won’t be able to teach them beyond books and literature,” he said.
Dar also appreciated a skit based on the theme of peace. “We want to tell our children that the greatest problems can be resolved by airing out issues rather than using weapons,”he said.
Amina Kamal, student of Federal Government Girls Secondary School Lalazar, said that despite the rain and public holiday, many children were enjoying the competitions. “Such events are extremely informative and they teach us lessons that we don’t learn otherwise. Of course watching a subject in a colorful light engages everyone and its educational for children of all ages and grades,” she said.
Green Task Force Chairman Dr Jamal Nasir was the guest of honor. He along with other officials of RAC including, adjudged the competition. “A sustainable resolution of the problem will only be possible if the aspirations of the Kashmiris are taken into account,” remarked Nasir.
Cultural festival
Meanwhile, a day-long festival was organised at Lok Virsa to mark the day. A group of Kashmiri artists set up cultural stalls and musicians added a cheerful aura to the event. However the programme was a bit delayed due to the downpour.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for National Heritage and Integration Samina Khalid Ghurki, said, “Pakistan will continue to support the cause of Kashmir. We have been celebrating Kashmir Day at national level since 1990 and are continuously trying to highlight the Kashmir issue to the international community.”
She added culture is an important tool which can effectively focus contribution of Kashmiris.
Kashmiri singers such as Subhan Rather, Rukhsana Murtaza, Haleema Bibi, Gulzar Shireen and Bano Rehmat enthralled the audience with Kashmiri folk tunes. A santoor player Ghulam Muhammad Dar played soulful music for the crowd.
The visitors seemed to be enjoying themselves at the event. “I think people have become detached with the Kashmir situation. Instead of enjoying the public holiday elsewhere, they should be here to show solidarity,” said Mohammad Irfan, a banker.
At the food stalls, some enjoyed traditional delights such as rista, roghan josh, tabaq mas, aloo gosht and goshtaba, and pink Kashmiri tea.
Some families could be seen bargaining to purchase Kashmiri shawls, gem stones, brightly- embroidered pillow and cushion covers and woodwork while others managed to bought large Kashmiri rugs. The festival lasted till the evening.
A large number of NGOs and government organisations set up their and expressed solidarity with Kashmiri people by displaying their products and banners bearing slogans. The festival was organised by Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Rallies, seminars
The day was observed with zeal and fervour in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. People took out rallies, attended seminars and reaffirmed support with their subjugated countrymen.
A moment of silence was also observed to pay homage to the valiant struggle of Kashmiris. A human chain was also formed on all the five bridges, including Mangla, Kohala, Dhalkot, Azad Pattan, and Holar besides at Bararkot, the entering points which connect Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with Pakistan. Thousands of people belonging to AJK and Pakistan gathered at these bridges participated to form the human chain.
A large number of people belonging to all walks of life reached Mangla Bridge in a big procession. While addressing, the speakers called upon the world community to ensure a peaceful solution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions. They said the sacrifices being offered by the valiant Kashmiri people would not go waste. The speakers demanded that India should immediately stop human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir
With additional information from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.