Saudi, Palestine ambassadors visit Lok Virsa admire folk artists, skilled workers’ performance
Zubair Qureshi
The seven-day star-studded music and folk festival is concluding on Sunday (today) with thousands of visitors, music and art lovers expected to turn up the gala along with families on the last day.
Attendance at the Lok Mela was in full swing even on the sixth day, Saturday, as hundreds of visitors thronged various stalls and theatrical performances organized by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (NIFTH) and the Lok Virsa Museum.
The performers at the folk festival were pleasantly surprised to find among them Ambassador of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nawaf Bin Said Al-Maliki and Palestinian Ambassador Ahmed Rabei who along with senior diplomats had come to witness Pakistan’s centuries-old unique culture and encourage the folk artists and termed it a great intangible heritage of the country.
Spectators and patrons of the arts – including foreigners – had come from all corners of the twin cities to spend memorable time at the cultural fair.
Traditionally decorated pavilions all these seven days added to the overall beauty and colours of the festival, while artisans and craftspeople remained busy creating unique handicrafts were among the main attractions of the event.
The pavilion representing the provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and AJK were tastefully decorated and exhibited the vibrant culture of the region to the fullest.
As is the norm at the Lok Mela, all provinces of the country take turns to organize a Grand Musical Night, with the Punjab Musical Night ) in which folk singers put forth their skills to entertain the public.
In today’s concluding ceremony, awards will be given away among the artists and performers for displaying excellent work.
