PILAC says tradition of singing poems is crucial part of Punjabi
culture and must be kept alive.
As many as 10 singers selected from across the Punjab took part in a Heer singing competition in connection with the Urs celebrations of poet Waris Shah here at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, PILAC Deputy Director Muhammad Asim Chaudhry said, “This is an excellent endeavour to promote Punjabi culture, language and art.”
“Many people know Waris Shah’s Heer only by name…we want to promote – peace, tolerance and brotherhood – the values Heer is all about,” he said.
Chaudry said the institute was promoting Punjabi language. “We feel it is crucial to keep alive the Punjabi tradition of singing poems,” he said.
He said the participants were selected after auditions and were considered to be some of the best Heer singers in the region.
“In addition to the prize money, [Rs15,000 for first prize, Rs10,000 and Rs5,000 for second and third prizes], the winners will also be awarded with a one-month teaching course on the poetry of Waris Shah,” he said.
Shabana Abbas from Kasur, who won the competition, said, “I started out by singing Bulheh Shah…It is an honour for me to have sung Waris Shah…He has been my favorite poet for a long time.”
Her teacher, Sardar Ahmad, said, “There is a spiritual connection between the singer and Heer Waris Shah…the connection is like that between a mother and her son.”
Naseer Ahmad Sindhu won the second prize and Husnain Akbar, the third.
The tradition of singing poems started more that 150 years ago in the Punjab.
This is the third edition of the competition organised by the PILAC and it is the 215th annual urs of Waris Shah.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2013.
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