In gloomy times: Mourning turns to melodies as K-P’s residents rise to their feet

Thriving Youth Organization holds event to highlight region’s cultural identity.

PESHAWAR: A musical evening titled ‘Saande ba Sandare She’ was organised at Nishtar Hall on Monday by NGO Thriving Youth Organization (TYO) to highlight the culture of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Traditional dances, from Chitrali to Attan, local songs, fashion, poetry and comedy plays were part of the four-hour show which was sponsored by the K-P Directorate of Culture and several other private and public organisations.

Popular singers Irfan Khan, Karan Khan, Humayun Khan, Saima, Shafqat Mehmood and Ali Haider earned much-deserved applause from the audience. Senior Pukhtun musician Ustad Nazir Khan was behind the music arrangements for the night.

Renowned rabab artist Shahid Malang’s melodic renditions coupled with the tabla compelled the audience to leave their seats and start dancing to the tunes.

Malang, who is known for his raw and simple compositions, performed several famous Pukhtun folk songs.

Moreover, traditional dresses from various areas of the province were showcased by models to highlight the province’s diverse culture.

“We have to show the world that despite the situation faced by Pukhtuns today, we will never lose courage,” said Abdul Ahad, one of the event organisers from TYO.  “Now is the time to take steps to protect our cultural identity, otherwise we will lose touch with our very existence.”

While Malang and Mehmood entertained the audience with their romantic numbers, Haider performed the popular ‘Plara Da Jang Waly De’ with his son which brought about a solemn atmosphere among the crowd owing to K-P’s precarious security situation.

Irfan performed his famous Pekhawar kho Pekhawar De Kana along with other romantic numbers.

Among the dancers, residents of Chitral residing in the city earned the most praise for their traditional performances.

“This event has been arranged while entertainment facilities are under attack,” said Farhad Khattak, who along with his friend performed the Attan dance. He said any bad situation can be faced with the right amount of courage and likened their performances as the best defence in the present times.

TYO dedicated the musical evening to famous Pashto ghazal singer Rafique Shinwari and paid glowing tributes to him for taking the region’s music to a whole new level.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2014.