RAWALPINDI: The three-day Punjab Lok Mela began at the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) on Thursday. The festival, which aims to celebrate the culture of the province and particularly the Potohar region, was inaugurated by MNA Tahira Aurangzeb at

The event included various cultural stalls, including a replica of a rural house that included a thread mill, also known as a charkha, a traditional hookah and other items. Dholwalas and dancers were invited from Chakwal, Jhelum and other parts of the Potohar region, and puppet shows were also held.

The first day of the festival showcased three events: an exhibition of the work of the forensic laboratory, arranged by the Police Training Academy Sihala, a dialogue on ‘Sadi Zaban, Sada Maan’ (Our Language, Our Pride), a folk music performance and a theatrical performance of the folktale Heer Ranjha.

Speakers at dialogue call for Punjabi to be made province’s official language

The musical performance was attended by many, and featured a dance performance to Sami by the Waheed Murad group from Jhelum, but it was Guriya Dholwali’s performance that stole the show.

A folk dancing group also performed the dandia dance, which is often performed in smaller towns and villages, using sticks, at weddings.

The musicians included Qurban Niazi, Jehangir Raja and Tahir Nayyar Gul Mohammad. Mr Niazi’s particularly enthralled the audience with his powerful vocals and performance, which began with Bulleh Shah’s Teray Ishq Nachaye and ended with Piya Ghar Aya.

The festival also included a session on the Punjabi language, during which speakers at a dialogue called on the government to introduce Punjabi as the official language of the province.

“Urdu is our national language and it should be adopted as the official language at the federal level, but Punjabi should be adopted as the official language in Punjab and education should imparted in the mother language so children can learn easily,” said Prof Ehsaan Akbar.

He said Punjabi was the language used by saints and in Sufi poetry, which teaches love and peace.

Prof Afshan Malik said people should express themselves in their mother language, and Punjabi is a centuries-old language in South Asia that all residents of the province should come together to promote.

She said Pakistan has a diverse culture and every province should encourage its language so people can express themselves, adding that Punjabi has been neglected in the past and people should promote their own culture and identity.

An exhibition highlighting the way forensic laboratory work helps trace criminals was also held at the mela, in which pictures detailed how forensic experts visit crime scenes and collect evidence.

Sihala Police College forensic adviser Aftab Ahmed Khan told Dawn the exhibition was held to inform people of the role of forensic experts in collecting evidence after terrorist attacks and warn people about forgery.

Some of the images should experts explaining the importance of fingerprints as well as other evidence. Another image explained how to check if a currency note is fake, as well as a chassis number and other documents.

Published in Dawn February 17th, 2017