Islamabad - The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage popularly known as Lok Virsa yesterday announced that it will hold its annual 10-day Folk Festival known as “Lok Mela” from April 1.
Addressing a press conference, Lok Virsa’s Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed informed that the festival is scheduled from April 1 to 10 at Lok Virsa Complex here at the Garden Avenue, Shakarparian. The inaugural ceremony of the 10-day festival will take place on Friday, April 1, at 7pm starting from celebration of Nauroz and will be graced by Senator Pervez Rashid, Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage. Explaining objectives of this largest cultural event, Dr Fouzia Saeed said: “Lok Mela aims at promoting, perpetuating and preserving arts, crafts, culture, folk music and traditional skills of Pakistan.”
“This unique event has now become a symbol of the federation and patronage to our rich cultural diversity and active participation of the people,” she said, adding the central focus of Lok Mela was rural Pakistan. The direct beneficiaries are artisans, folk artists, folk musicians and other performers from the rural areas and remote regions. It disseminates the dynamic creativity of countryside and gives people pride in their identity. The Mela also places special emphasis on creating provincial harmony and national integration.
The special events of the festival are opening ceremony with depiction on Nowruz on April 1, finale competition of Saroz playing (traditional Baloch music) on April 2, a thrilling performance of emerging child folk stars on 3rd April, celebrating diversity folk performances on 4th and 6th April. Sindhi musical night will take place on 5th April, musical night of Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir on 7th April, Punjab musical night on 8th April, provincial award ceremony and Balochistan musical night on 9th April, concluding ceremony and awards to artisans and artists and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa musical night on April 10.
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. Around 500 artisans and folk artists from all parts of the country will attend Lok Mela by bringing with them their creativity in arts, crafts and innovation. Master artisans and folk artists are promoted by giving them a platform to demonstrate their skills. “Cash awards will be given to master artisans in recognition of their craftsmanship,” she added. The festival also provides an opportunity to craftspeople to sell their crafts without involvement of middleman, she added. One of the major features of Lok Mela is the “Dastarbandi or Chadraposhi”, which is a way of proclaiming Lok Virsa’s commitment to the high stature that craftspeople and folk artists have in the cultural mainstream of the nation.  This year, Lok Virsa has decided to perform Dastarbandi and Chadarposhi of two established traditional practitioners (one male folk musician and one female master artisan), who have dedicated a major part of their lives to the revival and continuance of their respective skills.
Cultural departments of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have set up grand pavilions presenting their indigenous folk cultures, artisans, artists and traditional cuisine as link nodes of the festival’s foundational grid.
In order to highlight diversity within provinces, each pavilion will focus on a specific theme. Punjab pavilion will depict the indigenous folk culture and traditions of Cholistan desert, Makran by Balochistan, Thar by Sindh and Chitral by Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
Special attractions featuring folk singers, folk entertainers and other entertaining shows will be organized throughout the period of the festival. Display of traditional folk dances from all over Pakistan will be held in open air at intervals. Folk entertainers and rural musicians have also been invited to participate in the festival.

A special pavilion presenting the achievements of Lok Virsa focusing on the ongoing programs like Mandwa Films, etc. will also be set up at the festival grounds.

Craft of the Month, with the purpose to promote traditional skills and to inculcate knowledge in the younger generation about the craft heritage of Pakistan, is one of the popular program series organized 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.
Traditional mouth-watering Pakistani traditional cuisines will be arranged at the venue of the festival.
 The festival will culminate with a colourful award ceremony scheduled on the last day of the festival on Sunday, April 10 in which cash awards will be distributed among the most talented and deserving artisans and folk artists.
Responding to a question, Dr Fouzia said she has discussed with relevant higher authorities to establish a separate pavilion for the people of FATA so that they could display their traditional culture in the event.