LAHORE: A large number of people spent their weekly holiday at Johar Town’s Expo Centre enjoying Dawn’s annual Lifestyles Expo to the fullest by visiting stalls of consumer goods and relishing Lahore’s traditional food.

Rare breeds of dogs were also part of the event. The two-day exhibition continued to attract people till its culmination on Sunday night.

Children enjoyed playing games, attempted to use the potter’s wheel, had their faces and fingernails painted with enthusiasm, disallowing their elders to visit other portions of the expo Dawn has been organising for the past 17 years.

“It’s great to watch so many dogs of international breeds, and snap them. I am enjoying every bit of it,” said Ms Arfa at the arena of the dog competition holding her camera with a huge zoom lens. “I love to snap human beings and animals, and they are aplenty here, good for my photography,” she said.

Around 70 local and foreign brands selling electronics, furniture, food and what not, dotted the main hall of the Expo Centre. Handmade embroidered products from Sindh and parts of Punjab like Multan were another attraction.

The Kashf Foundation displayed embroidered shirts, bags and other things which were made by home-based women workers, attracting a large number of buyers. The stalls by the Sindh Handicrafts and the Punjab Small Industries Corporation drew rush because of their carved furniture, jewellery and shawls.

The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) made its presence felt by a free ride for the visitors on the huge decorated auto rickshaws on which it takes tourists to a round of the crooked and narrow lanes of the Walled City. The demand was high and children wanted another round.

“Let’s go and watch dogs now,” said Muhammad Arif to his children who were reluctant to leave the rickshaw.

The children in the meantime were attracted to the parade of mascots which the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop had started. And one of them began dancing to the beats of the drums along with the mascots. Besides repeating the performance all day through, the group also held puppet shows several times during the day.

The children’s pavilion was a hub of activity for the young of the city. Many were making cutouts of their hands which were being displayed at a board by a stationery company offering discounts and gifts.

On an adjacent stall, young girls were having their fingers painted. Boys were enjoying their face paint nearby and many children were busy drawing different sketches on the floor.

The potter’s wheel was the attraction for all, children pushing their parents away from it in order to use it themselves. “I usually wonder how they make pottery out of clay. And I couldn’t resist trying my hand at the wheel today. Its an amazing experience,” said Mrs Aisha Sibtain who had attempted to make a pot.

The food items lured many into buying these for their variety, economical rates and quality. “Yes, I checked the quality and rates before buying this food for family. Its good,” said Mr Farooq.

DOG SHOW: An all-breed dog show was also organised at the Lifestyle expo where dogs were judged or walking style, physical structure, posture and behaviour.

A Labrador and a German Shepherd were jointly declared as the best baby in the show, while in the best puppy category a German Shepherd and a Mastif claimed the first position.

German Shepherd and Labrador remained on top in the best junior in show category, while German Shepherd, Husky and Mastif breeds were declared as the best in the overall category.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2018