ISLAMABAD: The Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage) will bring cultural glimpses for fun lovers of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in a weeklong “Saqafati Mela” (Cultural Festival 2023) to be held from June 16.
The festival aims to promote the folk heritage of Pakistan, strengthen national harmony, and boost integration among all federating units through a cultural perspective. It also aims at contributing to reducing poverty among master artisans by giving them a platform to show their skills at the national level.
The festival’s inaugural ceremony will be held on Friday, 16 June, at Lok Virsa Open Air Theatre, while a Cultural Diversity Show featuring folk performers and musicians will be held on Saturday, 17 June. The Musical Fusion Night and beautiful performances by PNCA Performing Art Theater will also be part of the fun activities.
Daily attractions in Lok Virsa
Daily attractions during the cultural festival include the exhibition of folk paintings, the exhibition by the Meo community, the exhibition of artisans-at-work, performances by traditional drummers, folk dance performances, folk cuisine, a puppet show, children’s play area, a craft bazaar, and cultural stalls.
The festival will run daily from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Established in 1974, Lok Virsa is a specialized institution working under the National Heritage and Culture Division (NHCD) dealing with research, documentation, preservation, collection, and dissemination of the folk Heritage of Pakistan. The Institute runs various programs to ensure the projection of indigenous folk culture and the continuance of musical and craft traditions.
