Two-day Cholistan festival featuring performing arts, crafts traditional dresses and jewellery kicks off at Burney Garden, Alhamra Art Centre, Lahore on Friday.
The festival has been arranged by Pakistan Cholistan Development Council (CDC) and the Lahore Arts Council.
The Cholistan festival is the first cultural event taking place at the Burney Garden that was illuminated with colorful lights and a sound system playing music.
Festival was well attended by large number of people from different walks of life who praised artisans for presenting their traditional dance and music before the audience.
The festival was inaugurated by Lahore Arts Council Board of Governors Chairman Kamran Lashari along with Executive Director Atta Muhammad Khan
Lashari speaking to the participants at an inaugural ceremony said that these kinds of celebrations strengthen our nation and promote the peace, harmony and unity. “We can resolve our mutual problems easily with just interacting with each other at such forums.I also want to congratulate the Lahore Art Council LAC and CDC for arranging such kind of fiesta”, he said.
Numerous stalls have been set up offering a mix of food, fashion and crafts from the rich land of south Punjab. Hand embroidered dresses, bed sheets; jewellery, handicrafts and traditional food were some of the items for sale.
Music was an integral part of the festival that opened with traditional folk dance of Cholistan, called dandia. Dancers clad in glittering red and yellow dresses presented the dance form that was highly appreciated by the visitors. The second performance was by a trained Cholistani camel. Another melodious performance comprised musical instruments shehnaiv and naqara; a fusion of the two earned a thunderous applause.
Speaking on the occasion, CDC Executive Director Farooq Ahmed held LAC in high regard for providing the venue and extending support to holding the festival. He said the festival had been renewed after five years and hoped the council would continue to support it so it could be held here every year.
LAC executive director Captian (rtd) Atta Muhammad Khan said that we have to take step through which peace would prevail in the society and with arrangements made for the this festival where Cholistan unique culture is exhibited with full of colours is a little step taken by LAC’s vision to highlight and promote every indigenous and local culture.
Cholistan is famous for its leatherwork, pottery, small scale and home-based textile industries and cloth weaving. Ajrak is the especially of Cholistan immensely popular all over the world for its unique set of colours and patterns. People of Cholistan often wear bright coloured clothes. Cholistan located at Bahawalpur also adjoins Thar Desert extended to Sindh.
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