art-ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cultural Week at Lok Virsa has concluded on Monday, aimed to showcase unity, peace and harmony among the masses through a cultural perspective.

 

Cultural week gala which was organized by Federal Ministry of National Heritage & Integration in collaboration with Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage), started on January, 1 with a grand opening performed by, Prime Minister of Pakistan Raja Parvez Ashraf.

 

The major focus of this 7-day event was on Potohar region through depiction of its culture and traditions. Representative pavilions of all federating units - Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir by way of presenting their arts, crafts, indigenous folk heritage and folk music enhanced the beauty and landscape of the federal capital for a week.

 

The other features included exhibition of cultural heritage, art and craft bazaar, folkloric song, dance performances, traditional floats representing all federating units, installation of 24 entrance gates on highways and busy roads, decoration and beautification of different chowks and roundabouts on various themes, stage plays, on-the-spot activities, special attractions for families and children.

 

Over one hundred artisans in various crafts including embroidery, pottery, tie dye, doll making, lacquer work, khussa making, wood work, wood carving, metal work, shawl weaving, traditional carpets, Ajrak, wax printing, stone work, wooden spoon making, pattu weaving, papier mache, truck art, block printing, needle work and several other fields from all over Pakistan demonstrated their skills at the event in specially designed artistic pavilions.

 

Regular performances by folk artists, rural musicians and folk dance groups attired in traditional regional costumes were also an integral part of the Pakistan week celebrations.

 

Enthusiastic masses thronged the event to get a respite and enjoy the colorful ambience, folk dances, rural music and hoards of art & craft stalls.

 

Talking to APP, a visitor Faraz Gillani said, "This is our culture which Lok Virsa truly projected through Pakistan Week, for which its management deserves commendation", one could see here a Mini Pakistan presented at the heart of capital city with special emphasis on rural life and indigenous folk heritage".

 

"We do not go behind the western culture and try to inculcate awareness among our youth about the importance of Pakistani culture specially in the given circumstances", he added.

 

Another visitor Mrs Khalida said "We must also hold such type of activities in the capitals of major countries to promote our soft image in abroad, because only through cultural activities, we can express our feelings in a positive and effective way".

 

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2013

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