‘Gur Mela’ Begins in Faisalabad

News Desk 

FAISALABAD: The three-day Gur Mela and Cultural Festival opened at the Agriculture Heritage Museum of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), offering visitors a vibrant celebration of traditional foods, rural life and Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage.

Organised by the university’s Directorate of Farms, the festival brought together an assortment of traditional delicacies, cultural displays and recreational activities, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the flavours and traditions associated with rural Punjab.

At the heart of the festival were stalls showcasing a variety of ‘gur’ (jaggery), including plain gur, nut-enriched varieties and special preparations infused with desi ghee. Visitors also enjoyed traditional refreshments and street foods, including meethi lassi, gur-infused tea, gol gappay, green tea and fresh sugarcane juice.

The food stalls further featured traditional Punjabi favourites such as saag and makai ki roti, adding to the festival’s appeal for visitors seeking an authentic taste of rural cuisine.

Beyond food, the event offered a glimpse into traditional village life through horse riding, camel riding and tonga rides. Cultural stalls and a painting exhibition added colour to the celebrations, highlighting the region’s artistic traditions and cultural identity.

Director of Farms Dr Muhammad Shahid Ibne Zamir said the festival had been organised with schoolchildren particularly in mind, with the aim of providing them with recreational opportunities while familiarising them with traditional foods, agricultural practices and rural heritage.

Students from several educational institutions, including Laboratory Boys and Girls Schools, Divisional Public School, The City School and Roots, attended the event and explored its various attractions.

One of the key highlights for the young visitors was the opportunity to observe traditional equipment and techniques used in gur production. They watched demonstrations involving the ‘belna’, ‘kharas’ and ‘kohly’, gaining firsthand insight into the traditional process of extracting sugarcane juice and preparing jaggery.

Despite the intense winter cold, visitors from diverse backgrounds gathered at the university to enjoy the festival, which brought together food, entertainment, education and cultural preservation in a lively setting.

By combining traditional culinary delights with hands-on demonstrations and rural recreational activities, the Gur Mela and Cultural Festival served as a platform for connecting younger generations with the agricultural roots and cultural traditions of Punjab.

The festival is scheduled to continue until January 19.