Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Exhibition of Traditional Marriage ceremony at Lok Mela attracted large number of visitors at Lok Virsa.

Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr Fouzia Saeed said that artists specially arranged traditional marriage ceremony at Lok Mela which has become a popular entertainment for visitors.

She said that Pakistani wedding traditions are a strong reflection of culture with ritual, song, dance, food and dress that have evolved over centuries.

The Lok Mela administration specially arranged two horses to conduct the traditional marriage exhibition.

The groom can be seen riding on a horse with his Sarbala in the local. Thereafter, the groom’s sister ties the Sehra on the groom’s head.

After the completion of Sehra-bandi ceremony, those who witness the function give gifts and cash to the boy as a token of good luck.

The artists, exhibiting traditional marriage ceremony, said that the wedding customs and celebrations differ significantly depending on the geographical location as well as the families involved.

However, a typical Pakistani wedding has at least three main customs involving the Henna ceremony (Rasme Henna), the vows or the Nikah which is a part of the actual wedding or Shaadi ceremony and a subsequent Walima offered by the groom’s family.

The visitors lauded Lok Virsa for arranging an exhibition of traditional marriage ceremony.

The foreign visitors also took keen interest in the traditional marriage ceremony at Lok Mela.

Drama festival: Youth Drama Festival 2017 organized by Pakistan National Council of the Arts concluded with prize distribution ceremony here at PNCA Auditorium Islamabad.

Theatre groups and drama clubs of educational institutions presented their plays during the week-long festival. The plays were judged by professionals for 1st, 2nd& 3rd positions.

Director General PNCA Syed Jamal Shah said that all forms of art play role for bringing positivity in the human behavior and highlight the weaknesses and indiscipline in prevailing in the society and viz-a-viz reflect the beauty of human living.

Theatre is a very strong and influential medium for change and putting the society on a right path, Jamal Shah said.

The Council is striving for providing art education and training to the youth and to provide them opportunities/ platform to express their potentials. Youth Drama Festival 2017 is a manifestation of the cherished goals.

Jamal Shah praised the interest of young artists and public is very encouraging which help us in realizing the idea.