Mega music festival kick offs in Ayubia today

The Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) has made all arrangements for a mega musical gala wherein singers and artistes from across the country would participate to entertain the audience in the three-day event at the scenic tourist resort of Ayubia, in the Galiyat region.The event entitled ‘National Folk Music Festival’ is opening today (Friday) where for the first time some of the famous artistes from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab would perform at one venue – Ayubia Chairlift Midpoint, a press release of the TCKP Media Cell said.The musical extravaganza would help bring closer people of diverse ethnicities. The organisers hope to establish an atmosphere of social and cultural exchange and dialogue in order to inculcate respect and appreciation diversity.According to them, such initiatives make the society more tolerant, peaceful and it promotes coexistence. Concerts by leading pop stars every evening and various colourful cultural shows, fun and food are also part of the three days festival. It will be a rare occasion for families to enjoy both pop and folk music of different parts of the country at one venue.Art performers from all the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan will perform traditional dances including Khattak Dance, Wazir Attan, Gatka of Hazara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Cholistan and Multani dances of Punjab, Leva dance of Balochistan, Jhoomer and Tharri dances ofSindh and famous Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan dances.Mudassar Zaman, Afshan Zebi, Sami,Rizwana Khan, Aamir Zeb, Janas Khan, Khumaryan, Ismail Junaid, Karan Khan, Khalid Malik, Hamad Beg and others would perform in the ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Evening’ on the first day of the gala on Friday.’Folk Music of Pakistan’ is another attractive item on the second day’s itinerary wherein Gulzar Alam, Ahmad Gul, Akhtar Channaal, Nadeem Abbas Lonewala, Shazia Khushk, Rukhsana Kashmiri, Safdar Hussain, Mumtaz Ali, Rehmat Bano, Pervez and others would enthral the audience. Rabi Pirzada, Amanat Ali, Humera Arshad, Roxen Band, Faakhir and others would perform in the ‘Pop Night’ on the final night on Sunday. Revival of such cultural events, traditional melas and festivals are meant to provide opportunities to the famous artistes to bring their talents to fore in a conducive atmosphere.These activities would also help promote social and cultural exchange among the diverse communities and ensure sustainability and open up possibilities of growth, continuity, replications and networking with other similar groups, arts councils and various organisations working for the promotion and preservation of culture.TCKP has in the past held various festivals in Hazara district at venues like Khanpur, Naran and Ayubia. Easily accessible from cities like Islamabad and Abbottabad, and at an hour’s driving distance, the Galiyat region comprising many hillstations is a tourism and culturally rich area frequented by thousands of tourists