Written by: Waseem Abbas
Posted on: November 10, 2023 | 
| 中文
Handicrafts at Lok Mela 2023
The Lok Mela 2023 kicked off at the Lok Virsa Complex in Shakarparian, Islamabad, on the 3rd of November. The annual folk festival, organized by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), was inaugurated by the Minister for Culture and National Heritage, Jamal Shah, and continues till the 12th of November. The annual Lok Mela showcases the rich cultural traditions, dances, cuisines, arts and crafts of all four provinces, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.
Federal Minister for Culture and National Heritage, Jamal Shah, visiting Kalasha Stall at the KPK Pavilion
The festival has attracted over 500 skilled craftsmen, traditional artists, rural musicians and folk dancers from various regions of the country. These artists bring their artistic talents, craftsmanship and creative ideas that enrich the folk festival. Besides music and food, the Lok Mela (Folk Festival) has organized workshops and conferences on ‘Folklore and Traditional Heritage of Pakistan’ over a period of ten days. A Lok Virsa official told Dawn: “As we embark on this journey, we invite the public to immerse themselves in the captivating stories, vibrant colors and melodious tunes that make Pakistan truly extraordinary.”
Australian High Commissioner at the KPK Pavilion trying the traditional Peshori Qahwa (Photo Credit by Sultan Bashir)
Provincial Regional Pavilions at the Lok Mela have traditionally attracted huge audiences over the years. Traditional clothes, handicrafts, souvenirs, paintings, jewelry, musical instruments and other items that highlight the local culture and customs, were displayed at each regional pavilion. It provides a good opportunity for individuals to discover and value Pakistan's diverse cultural heritage in one place, and also provides a good opportunity to interact with people from different regions and learn about their art, clothing and cuisine. The provincial pavilions also have food stalls with a variety of traditional food items, as well as dance and music performances by traditional folk singers that Lok Virsa had arranged to be brought to Islamabad for the Lok Mela.
A Lok Dance Performance
The theme of the festival 'Peace and Harmony through Cultural Diversity,' was vividly portrayed in the various provincial pavilions. It was uplifting to witness people immersing themselves in traditional songs, lively dances, and savoring delicious cuisine. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Pavilion showcased culinary delights such as Kabuli Pulao, Chapli Kebab and more. The Kalash Pavilion, nestled within the KPK Pavilion, was captivating with its cultural uniqueness, traditional handicrafts and a collection of books delving into Kalasha culture. The Baluchistan Pavilion garnered attention for the handicrafts, clothes and shoes on display, as well as due to its famous stall for Sajji (It is a dish from Baluchistan, which consists of lamb/chicken, marinated only in salt with a few spices and is usually served with rice). In the Gilgit Baltistan Pavilion, traditional dishes like Mamtu, Gilgiti caps, local clothing, musical instruments, dry fruits and handicrafts were displayed, while musicians took center stage, enchanting visitors with their melodious tunes. The Sindh Pavilion, on the other hand, left a lasting impression with its continuous infusion of Sufi songs, creating an uplifting atmosphere complemented by dancers showcasing their spirited Qalandari Dhamal (Sindhi folk dance). The biggest pavilion was that of Punjab, which had a separate portion for food items and handicrafts. Musicians from central Punjab as well as the Seraiki region, graced the stage and entertained the audience. The 'Palestine Pavilion' has also been set up for the first time in the Lok Mela, in order to raise awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people as well as to generate funds for their relief.
Stall of Sajji at the Baluchistan Pavilion
The Lok Mela 2023 has two distinct additions: the Putli Tamasha, which is a popular puppet show in Pakistan and the Folk Theatre, which involves live music, dance and storytelling in regional languages as well as in Urdu. Besides regional musical performances in each pavilion, the open-air theatre at the Lok Virsa hosts a musical night of one region/province each night at 7 pm. Qawalli Night was scheduled on the 4th of November, Punjab Night on the 5th, Balochistan Night on the 6th, Azad Jammu Kashmir Night on the 9th, Sindh Musical Night on the 10th, Gilgit Baltistan Musical Night on 11th, and the KPK musical Night is scheduled on the 12th of November, 2023. Famous folk musicians from all the provinces are scheduled to perform on their respective musical nights.
Putli Tamasha (Puppet Show)
One of the more interesting segments of all the pavilions were book stalls that had books in regional languages, English and Urdu. Books on folk music, local arts, cultures, history, customs, traditions, regional cultural icons, languages and folklores, amongst other themes, were available in the book stalls. Shah Jo Riaslo in Sindi, Khushal Khan Khattak's poetry in Pushto, and Baba Bulleh Shah’s books in Punjabi, were particularly notable. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pavilion had books on Kalash culture, art, history and traditions that attracted the attention of the visitors.
Malaysian tourists sipping Qahwa at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pavilion
Although the festival was well organized there is always room for improvement. One noticeable problem was that the food and handicrafts were both pricey, most likely as a result of Lok Virsa's excessive stall fees. At the Punjab Pavilion, I ordered a small plate of "Desi Sag" with one Roti, and the vendor demanded 500 rupees. When I attempted to bargain, they asked for PKR 300. I heard a foreigner murmuring, "It's unfair," after he had paid the stall owner for something he bought. It was apparent that there was no fixed price for the items, and the stall owners tried to squeeze the customers as much as they could. Nonetheless, 9 out of 10 marks for the organizers for arranging such a successful event, uniting different cultures and regions of the country in one place.
Truck art
Lok Virsa’s efforts to preserve folk art, music and culture, as well as to help folk artists, musicians and singers is commendable. The annual Lok Mela organized by the Lok Virsa provides an opportunity for folk artists to showcase their talent to the world, which helps preserve endangered folk traditions, arts, crafts and musical forms. The Lok Mela also brings different units of the federation under one umbrella, paving the way for national unity, understanding and coexistence.
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