Lok Mela: Culture of mountains pulls large crowd

Over 35 artisans, folk artists from G-B are participating in the festival.

The culture of mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) attracted a large number of visitors during the ongoing Lok Mela festival at Shakarparian.

While visiting the festival, one can see a unique combination of cultural heritage of all the federating units.

A contingent of over 35 persons including master artisans, folk artists, folk musicians and officials from G-B is also participating in the folk festival side-by-side with the provinces of Pakistan, said a press release.

At the G-B pavilion, another artist, Deedar Ali, is demonstrating his workmanship in pattu weaving (woven strips made from sheep wool in Chitral and G-B). The 48-year artisan has been doing this for over 25 years.

The wool is spun by women on spinning wheels. Men weave on a locally-manufactured loom with strips from 14 to 20 inches wide. Patti is usually sewn into choghas — the local winter coat which resembles a bathrobe — and is also used as cloaks. Ali while weaving beautiful pieces of pattu, says the demand for caps, choghas always remains high locally.

At the G-B pavilion, a group of young artists and musicians attired in traditional regional costumes could be seen performing and attracting the crowd. Among them, Doulat Beg and Fazalur Rehman are singers and rubab players, while Rehmatullah, Naveed and Muhammad Qazi accompany them in sword and folk dance.

Historically, G-B has been at the crossroads of various civilisations for centuries. It has a unique location and serves as a confluence for some of the world’s highest mountain ranges – the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush. It has also been a place of cultural cross currents.

A cultural night focusing G-B’s indigenous unique culture was also held.

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