ISLAMABAD: The annual 10-day ‘Lok Mela’ started at Lok Virsa on Friday with colourful performances from all the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The festival was started off with performances by renowned singers Zarsanga and Tina Sani at the Open Air Theatre.

Folk artists and musicians will be participating in the 10-day event from across the country. Separate pavilions have been set up for each province.

Addressing the audience, Tina Sani said such events help promote various cultures and pass it on to the younger generation.

“They also provide folk artists from far-flung areas an opportunity to perform at a national platform, which is very encouraging for them,” she said.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed said the festival will help bring cultures from various parts of the country together in one space and that the Lok Mela is aimed at promoting, perpetuating and preserving arts, crafts, culture, folk music and the traditional skills of Pakistan.

“This unique event has now become a symbol of the federation and patronage to rich cultural diversity and active participation of the people. Lok Virsa is working towards the promotion of folk culture and music in the country,” she said.

Pashtu singer Zarsanga lauded Lok Virsa for hosting such a colourful event which she said will help connect folk singers from across the country.

The second session of the program started with a performance by Shaukat Ali, who played the dhol. Other artists who performed include Ashraf Gulzar, Sohni Mahiwal, Fazal Jutt, Taimoor Afghani, Umer Marvi, and Sassi Panu.

Talking to Dawn, a member of the audience, Laila Rehman said the inaugural ceremony was vibrant and that the performances depicted the various cultures and traditions of Pakistan.

According to Lok Virsa, more than 700 artists are participating in the festival. For the first time, Lok Virsa also initiated a shuttle service for bringing visitors from various parts of the city to the venue for the festival.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2017