PESHAWAR, Jan 28: A cultural show, organised by the provincial cultural directorate for women here on Monday, failed to pull a big and cheerful crowd.

According to the participants, the event lacked the spirit. Although it was a show exclusively for women, the chief guest was Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Mian Iftikhar Hussain. He attended the event along with officials of information and culture departments.

Even the minister felt that the event lacked vibrancy and said that next time more university and college students and women should be invited to participate in such events.

“Have a bit of fun and cheer up,” said the minister. However, he encouraged the women and young girls present there to raise voice for their rights in the male-dominated society.

He said that a society thrived and progressed in every field of life if men and women had equal rights in it. “Unfortunately we live in a tribal society where women are considered as a commodity or possession. This needs to be changed and women should raise their voice for their rights,” Mr Hussain said.

However, he also highlighted the positive and unique aspects of Pakhtun culture. Culture needed to be preserved and each and every one should fight terrorists and extremists, who were out to destroy the Pakhtun culture, he added.

On the occasion, artists presented cultural dances on wedding songs and modeled traditional clothes. Local singers including Dil Raj, Amina Baltistani, Aine and other sang songs.

Saima Taj, a university student, said that such shows should be held but there was a lot of space for improvement. “The songs that the singers sang were not part of our culture, I guess. Yes, the clothes they were wearing were traditional,” she said. Sehrish, another young girl, said that women and girls nowadays hardly had any opportunity to vent their feelings or get relaxed with such entertainment.

“There are so many worries, anxieties and restrictions that women don’t find any way to relax so such events should be held more often,” she said, adding that improvement in quality of such shows was needed.

The two hosts of the programme tried their best to cheer the participants but to no avail. In the end, mismanagement was obvious at times bringing awkward gaps during the show.The only true cultural flavour of the show was the two instrumentals, “Mung Yu Da Khyber Zalmi” and an anthem “Ay Zama Watana” on Rabab which enthralled the gathering.