Lok Mela To Promote Pak’s Traditional Culture

News Desk

Islamabad: From November 25 to December 4, the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) will host its annual Folk Festival of Pakistan (Lok Mela) at Shakarparian to amuse the residents of the twin cities and enliven the generally drab environment of the capital with bright colours of Pakistan’s cultural heritage. This year, a portion of the festival’s revenue will be donated to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund to aid flood victims.

National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, working under the Federal Government, Heritage Division, aim to develop Pakistan’s traditional culture. Therefore, Lok Virsa has been organising this event in Islamabad for the past forty years to promote the vibrant creativity of Pakistan’s traditional craftsmanship and rural folk artisans at the national level. The traditional Dastarbandi ceremony, which recognises a Master Artisan, would kick off Lok Mela. The main guest for the event will be the Advisor to the Prime Minister for political, public affairs, and national heritage and culture.The 10-day festival’s main themes will be Provincial Harmony and National Integration, highlighting the contributions of individuals from many ethnicities to Pakistan’s future. At the festival, hundreds of master craftspeople, folk artists, musicians, and dancers from all across Pakistan, including remote and distant places, would take part, offering their originality and ingenuity in arts, crafts, and invention.Credit: Umar Abrar Khan

The yearly Lok Mela offers a special chance to encounter the warmth and colour of various cultures from all around Pakistan. The festival will include provincial pavilions depicting various cultural themes, food courts, folk dances, folk music, shopping stalls, kid’s corner, concerts in open-air theatre among several other programs which will take place simultaneously at each provincial pavilion; according to the organisers.

Also being put up is an exotic artisan fair with a wide array of one-of-a-kind handicrafts, souvenirs, antiques, and decorative art.