Zubair Qureshi
In order to show the nation’s commitment and support for the Kashmiri brothers and sisters, the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) in collaboration with Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir Culture Department and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) kicked off a 3-day “Kashmir Cultural Festival” on Friday.
Federal Secretary, National Heritage and Culture Division Farina Mazhar, was the chief guest on this occasion.
In her address, she condemned atrocities being committed by Indian forces on the innocent Kashmiri people struggling for their right of self-determination in the Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). She said that the Indian forces are not only violating human rights in the IIOJK but also trying to destroy the cultural identity of the Kashmiri people. She appreciated the role of Lok Virsa in projecting the Kashmir cause through a cultural perspective.
Earlier, in his welcoming speech, Executive Director, Lok Virsa Shahzad Durrani explained the objective of the festival. He also thanked the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir Culture Department and Federal Directorate of Education for their effective collaboration in holding the event.
The opening ceremony featured Kashmiri patriotic songs, Kashmiri folk songs and mystic songs in which young artists paid tribute to the Kashmiri people and expressed solidarity with them on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day. A large number of people including Kashmiri families and youth attended the ceremony and commended the efforts of Lok Virsa in promoting the Kashmir cause.
Kashmir musical night at Kashmir Cultural Festival will be held on Saturday (today) at 6.00 pm at Lok Virsa open air theatre, Garden Avenue. Stage drama to highlight Kashmir cause will be presented on Sunday (tomorrow) at Lok Virsa open air theatre. Kashmiri artisans-at-work, Kashmiri folk paintings display, photographic exhibition on Kashmir and Kashmiri cuisine will continue with daily timings from 10 am to 8 pm.
The major objective of the festival is to promote Kashmir cause through a cultural perspective while expressing solidarity with the innocent Kashmiri people struggling for their right of self-determination in the Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).
The main features would include Kashmiri Artisans-at-work, Kashmiri folk crafts, Kashmiri patriotic songs, Kashmiri folk songs, Kashmiri folk paintings, photo exhibition on Kashmir, Kashmiri cuisine, screening of video documentaries on Kashmir, Kashmir musical evening, stage drama on Kashmir, promotional stalls to promote Kashmir cause and display of banners bearing slogans in support of the Kashmiri people.
