Kashmir Solidarity Day to explore kashmiri culture

Kashmir -i -Girls

Cultural show brings festivity to Capital

ISLAMABAD - Lok Virsa, the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage has been observed Kashmir Solidarity Day - Yakjehti Mela in collaboration with Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Division for many years.

As usual, this year too, Lok Virsa organised a daylong mini-festival on February 5, 2011 at its complex at Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad. The festival brought Kashmiri artisans, artists, NGOs & government organisations working for the cause of Kashmir, authentic Kashmiri cuisine under one umbrella to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

The colourful event was arranged with purely cultural and social perspective highlighting the contribution of Kashmiri immigrants who are trying to keep their identity and cultural traditions alive. Lok Virsa became the focal point of cultural activities relating to the day.
A wide of range of programmes were chalked out which continued throughout the day from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
The festival was formally opened by Ms Shaheen Dar, chief organiser women wing, Pakistan People’s Party, Azad Kashmir. Federal Secretary Culture Moin-ul-Islam Bokhari also visited the festival, met participants and expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri community.
The main features of function included Kashmiri artisans-at-work with more than 25 Kashmiri craftsmen and craftswomen displayed their artisanship in creatively designed cultural pavilions and attracted attention of the crowd. The master artisans who participated in the exhibition were Zulfiqar Ali Ghazi (papier mache), Yasmin Mustafa (shishgari), Nasir Ali (needlework), Muhammad Saleem (woodwork), Dawood Ahmed (Kashmiri embroidery), Qazi Ali Muhammad (namda & gabba), Muhammad Javaid (metal work), Shamim Habib (Kashmiri embroidery), Habib Ejaz (truck art), Muhammad Hafeez Nasir (zari work).
Arts & Crafts Bazaar offered a variety of knick-knacks, gem stones, folk arts, crafts, trinkets, etc. and were available on very affordable prices.
A one-day seminar in collaboration with Kashmir Cultural Academy titled as “Kashmir Tavajoh Chahta Hai” was also organised to mark the occasion participated by eminent Kashmiri intellectuals, writers, poets and scholars.
The event witnessed a great hustle and bustle. Although the dark clouds across the horizon were hinting at rain, this could not diminish the enthusiasm of visitors and people from all walks of life as they thronged the festival with their families and friends to see the festivities of one-day mini festival.
APP adds: A large number of non government organisations and government departments including Behbud Association, Binte Hazara Welfare Foundation, Roshni Organization, Women Vocational Centre, Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness, SUNGI Development Organization, TEVTA, Fatima Welfare Society, Directorate of Films and Publications, Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Kashmir Liberation Cell, Vanguard Books, National Archives of Pakistan, Saadia Art Vision, etc. related to social sector and Kashmir cause set up their stalls.


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