PESHAWAR: A traditional music competition ‘Ya Qurban’’ was held at community hall Kohat on Monday, where some 38 participants sang folk songs (Tapay).

The one-day event attracted a large number of audiences from around the city. Organised by KP directorate of culture, the competition was earlier held in Mardan, Abbotabad, Peshawar, Malakand and DI Khan. In Bannu, it will be held on Dec 20, according to a press release issued by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The purpose of the event is to revive and preserve folk music besides bringing out new talent,” Commissioner Kohat division Mussarat Hussain Khan said.

He said the aim was not only to encourage young people across the province to participate in their customs but also to create awareness about Pakhtun folk culture. The competition was also attended by the deputy director culture Ajmal khan who distributed awards among the winners.

In the Pashto Tapa contest, the first cash prize of Rs100,000 was awarded to Almas Khan. Syed Hussun Ustad got Rs75,000 and the third prize went to Maryam Bibi.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2015