LAHORE: A two-day Punjab Peace and Cultural Festival was unveiled at Punjab Institute of Language Art and Culture (Pilac) on Saturday.

The festival inaugurated by Minister for Information and Culture Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman has jointly been organised by Pilac and Punjabi Parchaar. It featured folk dances such as Bhangra, Jhoomer, Sufi singing, book stalls, and folk singing.

On the first day, a number of people flocked to the cultural event organised by Punjabi Parchar, an organisation working for the promotion of Punjabi language and culture.

Addressing the gathering, the minister said such types of activities fostered peace, harmony and love among people. He added that peace-oriented festivals should be organised to resuscitate the enriched culture of Punjab, besides bringing the people out of depression.

“There is a need to revive our Punjabi culture for posterity,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjabi Parchar Director Ahmad Raza said, “We must be proud of our mother tongue. Parents tend to speak English with their children in public whether or not they have a grip on it instead of giving importance to the mother tongue.”

Smooth organisation of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore gave a message to the world that Pakistan is a peaceful country and its citizens love such events, he said.

At the event, the students of Punjab College presented a tableau on the main symbol of Punjabi culture, Charkha, which was largely appreciated by the audience.

Folk singers enthralled the audience when they recited Waris Shah’s “Heer”. Folk singers, including Nadeem Abbas Lonay Wala, Jassi Lylpuria, Ali Baksh equally entertained the attendees.

Students of FC College and Lahore College for Women University staged a theatre highlighting the culture of Punjab.

Dhamal, jhoomer and other folk dances of Punjabi culture were also presented on the first day of the event.

Every one was touched by the verses at the poetic symposium.

A literary session on “Film te Culture” was also arranged in which speakers, including Pervaiz Kaleem, Tahir Sarwar Mir, Pervaiz Rahi, drama and film writer, Amir Raza expressed their views.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2017