The National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), on Thursday announced to hold its annual mega event known as Lok Mela from Friday, November 15, 2019. The festival is scheduled from November 15 to 24 at Lok Virsa Complex, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad. The main features include provincial cultural pavilions, artisans at work, folk songs and dance performances, exotic craft bazaar, cultural nights, folkloric performances and many other activities. As per tradition exists for the last four decades, the festival will formally open with a chadarposhi/ dastarbandi ceremony, which is a way of proclaiming Lok Virsa’s commitment to the high stature that craftspeople and folk artists have in the cultural mainstream of the nation As per tradition exists for the last four decades, the festival will formally open with a chadarposhi/ dastarbandi ceremony, which is a way of proclaiming Lok Virsa’s commitment to the high stature that craftspeople and folk artists have in the cultural mainstream of the nation. This year, one established master craftswoman and one male folk artist/ musician will be honoured with chaddarposhi and dastarbandi by Minister for Federal Education, Professional Training, National History & Literary Heritage Shafqat Mahmood on November 19, 2019. Culture departments of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir have been invited to set up pavilions presenting their indigenous folk culture, artisans, folk artists and traditional cuisine as link nodes of the festival’s foundation grid. Special attractions featuring folk singers, folk entertainers and other entertaining shows will be organized throughout the festival period. Display of traditional folk dances from all over Pakistan will be held in open air at intervals. Folk entertainers and rural musicians are invited from all over the country to participate in the festival. The mela entry ticket will be Rs 50 per head. Daily timings will be from 10am to 9pm.