ISLAMABAD: Lok Virsa has started a new program titled ‘Children Lok Mela’ for “harnessing culture with education” in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

The first of the festivals was held on Tuesday at the Islamabad Model College for Girls I-9/1 which featured a number of colourful activities including artisans at work, live folk music performances by singers and drummers, food stalls, traditional horse dances and many other activities and attractions.

Some 2,000 students from various FDE-run schools attended the Children Lok Mela at which FDE Director General Hasnat Qureshi and Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed were the chief guests.

Mr Qureshi appreciated Lok Virsa’s efforts for raising awareness among students about the cultural heritage of Pakistan.

Dr Saeed said her institution had been working for two years with the Federal Directorate of Education in order to raise awareness about Pakistani culture among students.

“Lok Virsa launched a one-year program series titled ‘Craft is Knowledge’ which aims to perpetuate traditional skills, promote artisans and raising awareness in children about folk crafts.

Ten training programs will be organised focused on particular crafts under this initiative,” she said.

An important component of the ‘Craft is Knowledge’ series is the Children Lok Mela which aims to mobilise educational institutions about the importance of the culture.

The opening ceremony included national songs, recitations of poems by Allama Iqbal, folk songs and dances and cultural diversity shows all presented by children while the Lok Virsa dance group presented a bhangra.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2017