ISLAMABAD: A number of visitors thronged the ongoing Lok Mela at Shakarparian on Friday to have glimpse of the innovative craft of Balochi artisans who are ready to entertain them with music, dance, delicious cuisines and other entertainment. The organisers allocated spacious pavilions to all the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for showcasing their indigenous folk culture in a creative and interactive manner. The Balochi pavilion set up by the Balochistan Directorate of Culture in collaboration with Lok Virsa catches the visitors’ eye with presentation of the richness of Balochi culture, arts, crafts, folk music, rituals, traditions, cuisine and folk entertainment. The Balochi contingent includes crafts people, folk artists, folk musicians and dance groups. Master artisans include Daryan Khan in traditional saroz making, Miral Khan in leather embroidery, Muhammad Akram in handloom work, Rozi Khan in Balochi chappal making, Malookan in Balochi embroidery and others. Folk artists and musicians include Abdul Wahid for Talik and dholak player, Muhammad Shakir (blind) for saroz player, Faiz Muhammad for surnai player, Shakeel Ahmad as firework artist, Dad Shah as saroz player, Fida Ahmad as saroz player and others. Famous Leva dance group also entertains the onlookers regularly with their distinctive attire and unique dance moves. The Balochi Musical Night at Lok Mela is scheduled to be held on Sunday (April 10) where eminent folk artists, musicians and performs would perform live in a concert. A visitor Afsheen Hassan at Lok Mela said, “One can see the glimpses from every corner of Pakistan created in the lush green surroundings of the Shakarparian Hills, contributing significantly to enhance the stature, beauty and landscape of the federal capital”. Meanwhile, the colours of Punjabi culture as usual dominated ongoing Lok Mela organised by Lok Virsa. Artisans and folk singers from all over the province are showing their skills in the event. The crafts on display in the Punjab pavilion include block printing, wood carving, darree and khaddar weaving, basketry, pottery, embroidery, lacquer art, Multani blue tiles, tie and dye, zardozi, metal work, camel bone carving, khussa making, doll making, Gugoo Ghore and much more. The pavilion also hosted traditional food items along with singing and listening pleasures of Punjabi folk songs. Punjabi style handicrafts also managed to catch viewers’ attention. Punjab Council of the Arts introduced new artisans in Lok Mela this year whose artistic work achieved appreciation from the visitors including foreigners. The novelty was seen in the camel work, decoration pieces from bamboo, glass work and work on leaves of dates. The traditional village with all utensils in the pavilion remained source of attraction for visitors particularly foreigners. PUCAR Deputy Director Saeed Ahmed while speaking on the occasion said that the patronisation of Punjab government gave encouragement to the artisans to show their talent adding that the government is making all efforts to preserve rich culture. The province also put up beautifully decorated pavilions and visitors have the unique opportunity to see a collection of Punjab’s traditionally rich culture in the federal capital for exciting ten days at Lo Mela. Lok Mela continues with all its festivities from 11 am to 11 pm. The entry ticket is Rs 30 per head for adults and Rs 20 per head for the students. The award ceremony of Lok Mela will take place on April 10 (Sunday). The cash awards worth thousands of rupees will be distributed among the winning master artisans and folk artists on the recommendations of a national jury constituted for the purpose.