Our Staff Reporter SIALKOT - A large number of people on Friday thronged Garrison Park Sialkot Cantt to enjoy the excitement of the national folk cultural festival, being held here under the auspices of Lok Virsa Islamabad. People enjoyed much the cultural festivity, which continued for the second consecutive day amid much pleasant weather under the little gleams of sunshine. The performances of the folk singers and artists and the special stalls established at the mela attracted a large number of people. The Lok Virsa is holding this mega event for promoting, provincial and local culture and brining together people of diverse culture and regions. It was the first-ever cultural gala organised at Sialkot by Lok Virsa which will continue till Nov 20. Hundreds of people including youth, students of schools and colleges, women and Sialkot exporters with their families visited the gala to watch the cultural shows and dramas there. They people took keen interest in the colourful live performance of several folk male and female singers, actors and actresses, who gave the messages of peace, love, affection, unity, faith and discipline through their performances. They also held colourful shows presenting the culture of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. On Thursday, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan inaugurated the folk festival with a renewed pledge to make all out sincere collective efforts to establish peace and cultural harmony among the people. Culture melas and art events can prove catalyst for bringing closer people from different cultures as well as help in developing understanding among people to know about each others traditions and cultures. Lok festivals are the major source to provide a platform to local artisans for introducing their skills and craftsmanship at home and abroad. By exploiting art and artists any nation could resolve mutual conflicts more easily because art is the main instrument which could help understanding the societies and culture in this era.