KEY POINTS
- Folk festival (Lok Mela) runs Nov 7–16, turning Islamabad into a celebratory hub.
- The festival showcases pavilions from all provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, plus an expanded International Pavilion.
- Cultural Nights and genre-specific programmes highlight Qawwali, provincial/ regional music nights, exhibitions, and artisans at
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s capital is gearing up for its biggest celebration of folk art and tradition as Lok Mela 2025 opens from 7 to 16 November, transforming the Lok Virsa complex in Islamabad into a vibrant showcase of the country’s cultural diversity.
Under autumn skies, artisans finish their stalls, musicians tune their instruments, and the scents of traditional dishes fill the air, signaling the capital’s most anticipated folk festival.
Organized by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) under the National Heritage and Culture Division, the festival is expected to turn Islamabad into a bustling hub of Pakistan’s folk heritage once again.
The event, formerly known as the Artisans at Work Festival, traces its origins to 1981 when Dr. Uxi Mufti founded Lok Virsa in 1974 to bring traditional crafts and arts into public visibility in a festive setting.
Over the decades, Lok Mela has grown into one of Pakistan’s premier cultural events, drawing visitors, artisans, and performers from across the country and beyond.
Talking to WE News English, Creative Director of Lok Mela, Uxi Mufti, who has dedicated more than four decades to promoting rural arts, emphasized the need to anchor modern identity in the country’s ancestral roots.
“We must be rooted in our past and confident in who we are if we want respect in the modern world,” Mufti said.
Mufti also stressed the importance of indigenizing Pakistan’s culture and crafts, warning of a “lapse of memory” among younger generations.
“How many young people today can recite a lori (lullaby)?” he asked, lamenting the divide between urban and rural life and urging renewed pride in national stories and legends.
This year’s theme, “Celebrate Pakistan’s Colors, Crafts, and Culture, all in one place”, spotlights regional unity through pavilions representing Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Visitors will see embroidered textiles, mirror work, pottery, and handmade jewelry, with woodcarvers from Chiniot, ajrak printers from Sindh, and women embroiderers from Balochistan preparing to showcase their crafts.
The International Pavilion, which drew significant attention last year, is expanding this year to include around a dozen foreign participants, offering a platform for global crafts and performances alongside Pakistani artists.
Flags from participating countries flutter above their spaces, adding an international dimension to the festival.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khichi called Lok Mela a display of Pakistan’s soft power and creative strength. “It’s not merely a festival; it is the living heartbeat of our identity,” he said.
“When our artisans, musicians, and storytellers gather here, they remind the world that Pakistan’s culture is its greatest source of unity and pride.”
Cultural Nights will illuminate the evenings, celebrating the musical traditions of each region. The program begins on November 7 with a grand Inaugural Ceremony and Qawwali Night.
Subsequent events include Balochistan Night on November 8, Punjab Night on November 9, and a Dhol Mela on November 10.
The following nights will highlight Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, culminating in a Grand Closing Ceremony and Musical Night on November 16.
Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr. Muhammad Waqas Saleem noted that Lok Mela, since its inception in 1981, has remained a symbol of cultural continuity and resilience.
“This is where Pakistan’s artisans tell their stories through the textures of their crafts, the rhythm of their songs, and the beauty of their traditions,” he said.
The festival grounds are being decorated with traditional motifs, regional flags, and handcrafted installations, while food courts promise a culinary tour of sajji, chapli kebab, haleem, biryani, and jalebi.
Enhanced security, crowd management, and family-friendly facilities aim to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all.
Lok Virsa threads the last touches on Lok Mela 2025 as Islamabad braces for a metropolis-wide celebration of colour, craftsmanship, joy, and melody, an alive drapery of Pakistan’s unity, talent, and heritage.
