he tradition of organising fairs and festivals in the Punjab goes back several centuries. These events not only provided farmers with opportunities for entertainment and participation in traditional sports, but also served as a platform for them to share insights and learn about best agricultural practices to address the challenges they faced in their work.

In keeping with this rich cultural tradition, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad hosts an annual Kisan Mela. This event has become an integral part of the campus calendar and is a vibrant celebration of rural life.

The Kisan Mela offers UAF students a unique opportunity to experience various aspects of rural culture firsthand. Beyond that, it plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture by bridging the gap between farmers, scientists and policymakers.

The festival provides a great platform to revive the centuries-old tradition of village fairs in the Punjab, while also celebrating and preserving the rural heritage that defines the region. By fostering collaboration and exchange of knowledge, the event strengthens ties between the agricultural community and academic institutions, ensuring that modern farming techniques and solutions reach those who need them most.

This year, the Kisan Mela went on for nine days. The lively affair, featuring a wide range of activities, including an agricultural exhibition, tent pegging competitions, food and nutrition fair, farmer’s convention, photo exhibition, greyhound race, kabaddi matches, gur mela, a dog show, a mares’ beauty competition, art and literature festival, Sufi night and poetry recitals, began with October.

The diverse activities not only attracted enthusiastic participation from UAF students but also drew hundreds of farmers, agricultural experts, poets, academics and prominent figures from Faisalabad and other cities.

The Kisan Mela exemplifies UAF’s commitment to showcasing the cultural and technical aspects of agriculture while highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing the pressing challenges of food security and environmental sustainability that Pakistan faces today. It underscores the significance of fostering cultural preservation alongside scientific innovation.

The mela opened with a book fair, featuring over 100,000 books displayed across 33 stalls. This book fair became a hub for students, book lovers and the local community, offering a vast selection of literature covering subjects like science, history, literature, agriculture, medical sciences and much more.

The Kisan Mela is much more than a cultural fair; it is an important forum for exchange of knowledge, ideas and innovation. Through this unique blend of cultural celebration and scientific dialogue, the Kisan Mela continues to strengthen the bond between rural communities and academic institutions.

Several cultural and sporting events were organised on the third day of the Mela. These included a fancy bird show, tent pegging competitions, a nutrition festival and an art and literature festival. The fancy bird show, featuring hundreds of bird species, captivated visitors and bird enthusiasts alike. The tent pegging competition, with over a thousand riders, was the highlight of the day, showcasing the rich tradition of rural sports in the region. The large turnout of both older farmers and horse enthusiasts underscored the continued passion Punjabis have for horse breeding and riding.

The nutrition festival saw students setting up food stalls offering a variety of traditional dishes and healthy meals, along with tips on improving health through proper nutrition. Meanwhile, the art and literature festival provided students with a platform to showcase their creativity through various forms of artistic and literary expression.

On the fourth day, the regional tent pegging championship concluded alongside a farmers’ convention. Held at the Directorate of Farms, the convention served as an educational platform for farmers, where agricultural scientists shared insights on modern farming techniques and strategies to ensure food security. The convention highlighted the need to modernise agriculture to meet the growing demands of the increasing population while ensuring sustainable development.

On the fifth day, the event featured a mares’ beauty competition, a greyhound race and kabaddi matches to engage participants. These activities, deeply rooted in rural culture, attracted significant participation and large crowds.

A gur mela (jaggery festival) was also held to celebrate traditional foods. Stalls offering a variety of rural delicacies like saag, makai ki roti (cornbread), lassi and sweets were set up. Students, dressed in traditional attire, prepared the dishes. The event drew a large number of visitors, including food enthusiasts and locals eager to enjoy these traditional dishes.

The participants noted that in today’s rapidly changing world, the importance of such fairs has increased as they play a crucial role in preserving and promoting cultural traditions, which are at risk of fading away due to modern lifestyle and increasing urbanisation.

The writer has been associated with journalism for the past decade. He tweets @ naeemahmad876