ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Lok Virsa would organise a two-day folk festival known as ‘Lok Mela’ in Karachi from November 11 at Karachi Arts Council (KAC) to promote cultural diversity of the Country.
Talking to the state-run news agency, the Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr Fouzia Saeed said that Lok Mela aims at promoting, perpetuating and preserving arts, crafts, culture, folk music and traditional skills of the Country.
“This unique event had now become a symbol of the federation and patronage to our rich cultural diversity with the active participation of the people,” she said.
Dr Fouzia Saeed said that the central focus of Lok Mela was the rural areas of the Country. She said that the direct beneficiaries would be artisans, folk artists, musicians and other performers from the rural and remote areas.
The executive director Lok Virsa said that first time in the history of Lok Virsa, it is being held in another city.
The daily attractions of the festival include provincial pavilions depicting various cultural themes, Lok Virsa pavilion, cultural food stalls, folk dances, folk music, shopping mall, kid’s corner, concerts in open air theatre and several others.
Craft of the Month, with the purpose to promote traditional skills and inculcate knowledge in the younger generation about the craft heritage of Pakistan, is one of the popular programme series organised by Lok Virsa.
An exotic craft bazaar featuring score of tastefully decorated pavilions offering a variety of knick-knacks, antiques, craft items and cultural materials will also be set up. Pakistani traditional cuisines will also be arranged in the festival.
The festival will culminate with a colourful ceremony on November 12.