Folk festival starts at Alhamra

Published December 21, 2019
Women take interest in clothes at a stall set up at folk mela Virsa at Alhamra. — White Star
Women take interest in clothes at a stall set up at folk mela Virsa at Alhamra. — White Star

LAHORE: A three-day colorful folk mela, titled ‘Virsa’, being organised by the Lahore Arts Council (LAC), started on Friday at the Alhamra Arts Centre, The Mall.

The event was inaugurated by Parliamentary Secretary Information and Culture Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi along Alhamra Executive Director Athar Ali Khan, says a handout.

LAC board of governors (BoG) Chairperson Moneeza Hashmi and singer and BoG member Waris Baig also participated in the opening.

Singers sang local and folk songs and performed dance, greatly admired by the audience.

Speaking on the occasion, Information and Culture Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi said the LAC was determined to support arts and culture in pursuing excellence and representing the cultural roots. He appreciated the council for organising the folk festival, terming it a treat for the people who wanted to see the true colours of Punjab.

Ather Ali Khan said the folk festival was being organised for promotion of the Punjabi culture and the socio-cultural values of the province.

“The artistes from all over Punjab are participating in the festival which has a variety of cultural, art and literary activities, including poetry, drama, music, folk dance,” he said.

The festival will continue till Dec 22.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...