Daily Times

LAHORE: National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage’s, Lok Virsa, one-day festival titled “Greatness in Diversity” proved an enormous success. The event was held in the provincial metropolis on Wednesday, with an aim to celebrate the culture of Pakistan.

In the festival, leading personalities from music, puppetry, painting and other forms of arts including Salima Hashmi, Usman Peerzada, Sadaan Peerzada; Punjab Culture Department Additional Secretary Saman Rai, Smithsonian Institute Asian Cultural History Programs researcher Robert Pontsioen, among others participated in the event and shared their thoughts and observations about cultural practices and challenges faced by Pakistani culture and folk traditions.

The festival kicked off with soulful playing of Shehnai by Ustad Sona. Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fozia Saeed, in the inaugural session, said that it was Lok Virsa’s foremost priority to promote the cultural diversity of Pakistan. She said they had brought all leading cultural managers and practitioners under one roof so that they can sit together and discuss a collective strategy for restoration and promotion of the culture. “Such festivals enhance mutual bonding and the process of understanding, as participants share best available cultural practices,” she added.

Robert Pontsioen highlighted Japan as a case study and discussed cultural methodologies and strategies used by Japan for the promotion and preservation of its ancient culture. He identified the concerned areas that required attention of policy makers and emphasised on restoration of folk craft traditions and cultural properties.

At the occasion, a Sarangi performance by Dr Taimur Khan enthralled the audience. Usman Peerzada spoke about cultural contribution made by Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop in promotion of Pakistani culture across the world. He mentioned that the theatre’s performing arts festival gave an opportunity to world renowned artists to visit Pakistan and share their art with Pakistani public.

Ustad Qamar Allah Lok gave a soulful performance with a Pakhavaj, played in the traditional style; whereas Attique played it in a modern style.

An exhibition entitled ‘The Lost Chord’ remained the central attraction during the proceedings of the festival. The exhibition brought to attention many musical instruments of Pakistan which constitute an important element of the intangible heritage of the country. It put spotlight on the status of those instruments, including the ones which were now deemed endangered, but had collectively formed Pakistan’s rich cultural history.

Ejaz Sarhadi played traditional musical instrument Sarinda and received applause from the audience. The festival concluded with a folk music concert in Alhamra Hall in which folk singer Fazal Jutt revived the traditional form of singing by presenting folklores of Punjab in their original form. Singers also paid tribute to legendary folk singers Aashiq Jatt and Bali Jati.

Published in Daily Times, November 16^th 2017.