KARACHI: Celebrating the friendship between Pakistan and Japan, a fusion of poetry, music, dance and floral artistry was organised here at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP).

The event — Waka Raag with Classical Dance / Ikebana Demonstration’ — was organised on Monday evening by the Pakistan Japan Cultural Association (PJCA), Sindh in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in Karachi and the ACP, Karachi.

Thus Japanese poems, translated into Urdu, were sung in sync with the traditional musical style of Pakistani Raag and Pakistani musical instruments in order to provide the audience the opportunity to experience and enjoy a captivating classical dance performance by famous classical dancer Sheema Karmani, delightfully synchronised with Waka poetry singing in the beautiful voices of Ustad Mehboob Ali Khan, Moeed Farooqui and Katherine Shad.

Side-by-side there was a live demonstration of flower arrangement by Senior Professor of Ikenobo Ikebana Asifa Ataka, who said: “Flowers are silent storytellers.”

She started by creating an Ikebana arrangement with long-stemmed sunflowers and dried bamboo just before the stage backdrop. “Sagar Sahil Per / Rait Ke Dhairoan Zarrein Hain / Ginti Se Bahar ... [By the great sea’s shore /Grains of sand / I tally constantly ...]” was the Waka poetry composed in Raag Deshkar and sung by the singers as the professor worked with the flowers.

That musical composition was followed by “Tareeki Chaee / Dilbar Tujhse Milna Tha ... [Nights when the moon hides / All hope of seeing you leaves me ...]”, sung in Raag Kirwani.

The next Waka poem was composed in Raag Durga. “Khwaboan Ki Tabeer / Be Kal Har Su Phirti Hoon ... [Upon the path of dreams / My feet don’t rest ...]” also brought on stage, amid thunderous applause, the graceful Sheema Kermani in a pretty off-white peshwas and orange dupatta along with matching accessories.

She showered on her audience the petals from an assortment of flowers from the edge of the stage, now the most happening of places in the auditorium. There were musicians and singers on the left, another live Ikebana demonstration by Prof Ataka taking place on the right and Sheema in the middle like a dancing doll in an oasis in a dream.

Earlier, PJCA Joint Secretary Sameera Javed said that they celebrate ‘Hamara Dostana’ in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan every year.

PJCA President Sadia Rashid also said that humanity is a combination of culture, poetry, music, dance and art, and by organising such programmes to promote art and culture of both countries is their way of furthering friendship with Japan.

The Consul General of Japan, Hattori Masaru, said that Waka is a very important part of Japanese culture and that he felt happy to see it being promoted in Pakistan through such programmes. “Waka Raag, a fusion of Pakistani and Japanese cultures, creates a beautiful symphony of famous Waka selected from Kokinshu, one of the earliest existing anthologies of Japanese poetry,” he said.

“I would like to thank PJCA and the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi for reviving this popular event and to all those who have worked so hard to create an ideal form of cultural exchange between Pakistan and Japan, with originality and artistry unique to Pakistan,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2024