BADIN: The two-day Laar Festival in Badin got under way on Saturday with a well-attended ceremony which was addressed by Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Sassui Palijo and other party leaders, including Mohammed Ismail Rahu, Akbar Leghari and Dr Ghafoor Memon.

The festival has been organised by the provincial culture and tourism department with the aim of promoting the culture of lower Sindh and encouraging the area population to participate in nation-building activities and healthy practices.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Palijo said that the activities featuring in the festival would not only provide entertainment to people but would also help give a boost to tourism, besides promoting the rich culture of this region, that had remained the capital of Sindh for centuries.

Tracing the history, she said lower Sindh especially Badin, Thatta and Sujawal districts produced brave rulers, warriors and literary giants who also adorned its culture. She said that the PPP and its government had been paying special attention to Sindh’s culture and also preservation of its heritage and archaeological sites to promote tourism.

Senator Palijo appreciated artists, including singers, sughars, musicians, who were present there in a large number, and exhorted them and literary figures to promote mysticism. “It’s the best way to defeat fanaticism and religious extremism,” she said, referring to the teachings of revered personalities from Laar and other parts of Sindh to suggest that they always preached peace, brotherhood and interfaith harmony in society.

“Great Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai lived in lower Sindh for more than 21 years and his teachings immortalised this region’s culture and traditions,” she said.

Dodo Soomro, the valiant king of Sindh who laid down his life in the line of his duty to defeat invaders, also belonged to Laar, she added, and lauded the festival organisers’ efforts in producing and presenting the versified drama on Dodo Soomro authored by Shaikh Ayaz.

Ismail Rahu told the audience that the festival would help bring about a very positive change beneficial to the coming generations of Laar.

Prof Dr Mohammed Ismail Memon, Prof Tufail Ahmed Chandio, Sharifuddin Talpur and others read out their papers on prominent personalities of lower Sindh.

Prof Abdullah Mallah and other scholars also spoke.

A number of stalls have been set up at the festival, being held at Laar Museum, to put on display books on a variety of subjects, souvenirs, cultural and traditional items and may other things to attract visitors.

The stage drama Dodo Soomro jo mout (The death of Dodo Soomro) and performance of folk artists are the main features of the festival.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2017