ISLAMABAD: In order to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, the Lok Virsa, in collaboration with Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Federal Directorate of Education, has organised a Kashmir Cultural Festival on Monday to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. The festival would feature a cultural perspective of Kashmiris struggle against Indian occupation and their demand for the right to self-determination. The one-day festival will be held at Museum Hall, aiming to spotlight everyday life in Kashmir through showcasing different segments including a special exhibition of artisans-at-work, featuring Kashmiri master artisans in different specialized craft fields like papermache, embroidery, namda, gabba, jewellery, shawl and weaving, etc. The artisans will demonstrate their skills in front of the visitors, according to a press release issued by Lok Virsa. Live folkloric performances by folk artists, musicians and instrumentalists will also be arranged on the occasion while they will sing inspirational and national songs to project the Kashmir cause. A special arts and crafts bazaar will be set up to offer a variety of knick-knacks, gemstones, folk arts, crafts, trinkets, etc, to the visitors attending the day-long event. Lok Khaba a traditional food point at Lok Virsa will offer traditional Kashmiri cuisine to the visitors throughout the day. Decorations and banners bearing slogans in support of Kashmir cause would also be placed at the venue. On Saturday, Lok Virsa organised a show to recall ‘cultural identity and spaces, promoting pluralism’. The event was attended by Member of National Assembly Ramesh Kumar, film producer Syed Noor, film star Sahira Kazmi, known writer IA Rehman, journalist Mujahid Brahelvi, Farooq Qaiser (Uncle Sargam), artist Saleema Hashmi, Director Federal Directorate of Education Hasnat Qureshi, and Singer Arieb Azhar, who also spoke on the occasion. The speakers highly appreciated Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed for making efforts to promote the cultural heritage of the country. They noted that Lok Virsa had become a hub of cultural events. Dr Fouzia Saeed on the occasion said Lok Virsa was mandated to preserve, document and promote the cultural heritage of Pakistan. She said that as its head she had made efforts to create a sense of ownership among regional cultures as well as minority communities besides efforts to develop international linkages, undertake infrastructure development at the premises and financial streamlining of the institution. She claimed that today Lok Virsa was a vibrant hub of cultural activities with hundreds of people visiting it every day. Now the focus would be on the promotion of the country’s folk heritage which would create more space for expressing diversity within culture, asserting cultural autonomy and dignity as well as contributing towards a stronger democracy and nation, she added. Each component of Lok Virsa’s strategy and progress was discussed in a separate segment. These components included: ‘Rebuilding Cultural Identity’, ‘Reclaiming Cultural Spaces’, ‘Strengthening Lok Virsa’, ‘Linkages with Cultural Institutions’ and ‘Promoting Diversity and Pluralism’. A large multimedia screen displayed presentation of short video clips, interviews, before and after visuals, demonstrating the progress made as a result of last three-year strategy. The audience was particularly excited to see the launch of Lok Virsa’s digitized archives during ‘Strengthening Lok Virsa’ segment. These archives can be accessed online from anywhere in the world. The segment also included launch of ‘Lok Tunes’, a website featuring all of the recordings of famous artists recorded at Lok Virsa. The evening was a fusion of discussion as well as music. Lok Virsa’s ‘Open Mic’ stars took to stage and performed a folk medley during the segment ‘Reclaiming Cultural Spaces’. During the same segment, Syed Noor, renowned film director, described ‘Mandwa Film Club’ as a concept that is not only reviving the culture of film screenings but also helping to remind new generation about the real ‘Mandwa’. Lok Virsa’s dance troupe ‘Jamalo’ paid tribute to vintage cinema by performing to the classic song ‘Socha tha Pyar na Karen Ge’. Published in Daily Times, February 5th 2018.