LAHORE: Saturday night’s three bomb blasts failed to dent art lovers’ enthusiasm as they turned up in good numbers to watch the concluding performances at the art festival on Sunday night.

Besides the general public, a number of known faces from film, television and other walks of life also turned up to show solidarity with the Rafi Peer Theatre, the organizers of the World Performing Arts Festival, who had refused to cancel the concluding show.

The art fanciers enjoyed some great performances during the 11-day gala.

The performances held on Sunday were from Pakistan, Netherlands and India in the domains of theatre, Puppet and music.

The international delegates in a press statement issued on Sunday said ‘We are here receiving the love and the warmth of the people of Lahore for the last 10 days and it has been wonderful’. 

They said a festival of arts such as this made human being think about a new world, a world of  love without prejudice. ‘We celebrated our being here in Lahore; we shall come again next year.’

At the festival, a board was put on display showing comments written by different foreign delegates, local artistes, visitors about peace and love. Candles for peace were also lit up.

Samina Pirzada told Dawn that all foreign delegates, local artistes, cast of different plays had been at the festival to show solidarity for the cause of peace through the platform of art.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, Faizan Pirzada requested the government to extend financial help to Rafi Peer Theatre. He said the Norwegian embassy had given 22 per cent of the festival cost since their government was concerned about the promotion of art in Pakistan. The Pakistan government should also lend a helping hand in difficult times for holding such cultural activities in the country.

To a question, he said that he was determined to hold the festival next year too for it was a service Rafi Peer Theatre had been doing for the people of this country in the domain of art and culture.

The security was almost doubled on Sunday. Police on the other hand detained a number of suspects in its bid to lay a hand on culprits.