KP Pavilion attracts local, international tourists at Lok Mela

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pavilion set up by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Pakistan Folk Festival, has become a focal point of interest for both local and international tourists.

The 10-day folk festival is being held under the auspices of the National Heritage and Culture Division and features pavilions representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and other regions.

Over 30 stalls displaying cultural and craft items have been set up in the KP Pavilion, showcasing the work of more than 50 artisans from various districts, including Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Charsadda, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Chitral, Mansehra, Swat and.others

Traditional KP dishes like “sohbat painda,” chapli kebabs, tikka boti, chicken boti, mutton karahi, ambrosia and Charsadda rice are served, while the Kalash Development Authority has arranged Kalash troupe of men and women to present the unique Kalash dance performance at the pavilion.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Musical Night scheduled is going to be held today, which will feature performances by various artistes including Shahid Malang, Kulsoom Wadood, Javed Jahangiri, Sehrish Khan and Jim Boys band.

The festival organized on the national level aimed at promoting a positive image of the province, showcase its rich cultural heritage, and support local artists. Since the opening day, the pavilion has seen a continuous flow of visitors who are enjoying traditional food stalls offering a variety of regional cuisines.

A special attraction is the famous Qissa Khwani Bazaar and a tea house where visitors can learn about the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while savouring traditional tea. The pavilion also features an array of traditional items, including clay pottery, Mughal art, Charsadda chappal, woodwork, stone and glass engraving, Hazara embroidery and bags, Swati shawls, truck art, mosaic stone art, calligraphy, dried fruits, sugarcane juice, and other cultural artifacts. Videos and documentaries of various tourist spots in KP are also displayed for visitors. Also, a Kalash Pavilion is set up where Kalash items are exhibited and visitors are provided information about Kalash culture along with live Kalash dance performances.

The much-awaited annual Lok Mela is going on at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), presenting a diverse cultural extravaganza for the art lovers. The event is being arranged by Lok Virsa, which is an autonomous cultural organisation working under the National Heritage and Culture Division.

The objective is to promote Pakistan’s indigenous folk heritage, strengthen national harmony and integration among all federating units through a cultural perspective and provide a much-needed platform to the master artisans, folk artistes, folk musicians and folk dancers to demonstrate their skills at the national level.