Back to the roots: Three-day Sindhi cultural festival kicks off in Karachi

The festival will have sessions related to Sindhi literature, poetry and about the origin of Sindhi language

KARACHI: The three-day Sindhi cultural and literature festival kicked off at Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, on Friday evening.

The festival has been organised by the Sindh cultural and tourism department. Speaking at the opening ceremony, special assistant to the chief minister on culture Sharmila Farooqi announced the festival will be held every year. This is the first time that an event has been started to promote Sindhi language, she added. “We will make it a big event next year and include the things that are missing this time.”

This festival will have sessions related to Sindhi literature, poetry and about the origin of Sindhi language. After Karachi, this festival will take place in Hyderabad, Larkana and other cities of Sindh, Farooqi announced.

Comparing the Sindh cultural and literature festival to the Karachi Literature Festival, Farooqi said that it is our responsibility to promote the language of our province as the inhabitants of Sindh. “I want the people of Sindh to own this festival the same way as they own KLF.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, culture department director-general Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro announced the programmes of the three-day festival. “Cultural evening, literature sessions, presentation of handmade handicrafts is part of our three-day festivities,” he announced. Kanasro said Sindhi language is an ancient language and, through these kinds of festivals, they will try to give this language its due importance.

Many stalls are placed at the Arts Council representing the Sindhi culture. Khes and Lungi (Sindhi chadar), Thari charkho (charkha), ajrak dresses, Sindhi bangles, dry fruits from Sindh, pickles and bed sheets made from Sindhi block-printing are available at the stalls for the public to buy.

Book stalls have been set up by the Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro, and the Sindhi Language Authority Hyderabad.  A separate stall has been set up by the name ‘Village Hotel’ where the visitors can enjoy famous Sindhi food. A section has been given to Sindhi performers who will sing Sindhi songs and qawwalis at the festival.