KARACHI, Nov 15: The three-day Kumhar Mela is to open at the Arts Council of Pakistan on Thursday.

The Kumhar Mela (local ceramists’ fair) is part of the two-week-long Asna Clay Exhibition, which kicked off last week.

According to an organiser, the Mela would open at 4pm on Thursday and will continue from 10am to 6pm till Saturday. The venue is ground floor of the Arts Council.

On display and sale will be the clay wares of potters from all four provinces. In the North from earthquake affected valley of Siran to as far south as Badin on the Indus Delta and from Quetta in the West to Harappa in the East, at Kumhar Mela, the potters and kashigars will bring the living traditions of clay to Karachi.

Among others, internationally acclaimed names Kumhar Nawaz from Harappa and Kashigar Mushtaq from Nusserpur will be there to share their experiences being with visitors.

This project is held in collaboration with the tourism ministry as a precursor to their Visit Pakistan Year in 2007.

The Mela aims to provide an opportunity for dialogue between the two exponents of clay, said an organiser. The kumhars could get a feedback on designs suited to the urban market, she added.