Celebrating basant: Arts Council to host spring holidays festival

Organisers say festival aims to reduce violence and intolerance from society

KARACHI: A three-day spring holidays cultural festival will be taking place at the Arts Council of Pakistan and at Amin House in Sultanabad, from February 13.

The aim of this festival is to reduce violence and intolerance from the society, said Thespianz Theatre's artistic director Faisal Malik during a press conference on Wednesday.  The festival is part of 'I Am Karachi' peace campaign and it aims to mobilise the citizens and the youth at large to live with peace and harmony.  "The 'I Am Karachi' campaign was a big success last year," claimed Malik. "It motivated our youth."

According to him, these festivals will boost the morale of the people living in Karachi. "We should feel proud of Karachi's diversity," he said. "Each ethnic group has a rich culture and we are organising this campaign to enjoy this diversity."

'I Am Karachi' campaign member Zain Ahmed was also present at the press conference. "The mission of the 'I Am Karachi' campaign is to promote love and hope," he said, adding that such events promote cultural harmony.

The festival will be inaugurated by the special assistant to the chief minister on culture, Sharmila Farooqi, on February 13. It will include live performance by theatre groups from various parts of the city. The attendees will also be entertained by horse dancers from Multan. Handicraft models and food stalls will also be set up.

Arts Council will also host a musical concert where Pakhtun singers will perform especially for the people of the city. A special segment called 'Dastangoi' will be held in which famous poet Amjad Islam Amjad and writer Anwar Maqsood will recite poetry. Drama writers Haseena Moin and Farhat Ishtiaq will also conduct some sessions.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2015.