Highlighting the legacy: Culture festival offers a feast for the eyes

Two-day event features food and traditional items from different regions.

PESHAWAR:

A two-day festival kicked off at Peshawar Garrison Club on Saturday, showcasing the rich culture of the province.

The event has been organised by Tourism Corporation Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) and is titled ‘Cuisines and Cultural Festival’. Paying homage to the traditional food and culture of the province, the event features edibles and articles native to certain districts, such as the guavas of Kohat, handicrafts of Chitral, Kohistani embroidery, sandals of Charsadda and hand-woven shawls of Rajar.

Chefs could be seen preparing exotic meat dishes such as chapli kebabs, sajji, seekh kebabs, fish and dam pukh. Saag, makai and rice of Charsadda were also being cooked to cater to different taste buds. The savoury dishes were complimented with sweets of Rajar, Charsadda and Mardan.

Besides food, regional culture was also portrayed through folkdances such as the Chitrali, Khattak, Mehsud and Waziristan genres. Live music with rabab and mangay was also performed.

“Dances depicting lives of people in far-flung areas not only highlight unique cultures, but also revive them,” said Amjid Khan, who was visiting the festival with his family. Khan recalled a time when musical instruments and cultural performances were the norm at events. However, the tradition is now fading, he admitted. “Events such as this festival can help bring fading heritage back to life.”

Not many people came to the festival on the first day so the inauguration ceremony was postponed from noon till 3pm. Another reason for the lesser turnout could have been the venue, Peshawar Garrison Club, which is accessible to very few people.

“We are trying to showcase the culture and traditions of all the regions of the province,” said Tourism Secretary Aftab Durrani. “Through this effort, we wish to bring back smiles on the faces of people, who have, and are still, experiencing trauma due to militancy which has engulfed the entire province.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2015.