ISLAMABAD, Dec 27, (APP): The 7-day weaving craft program organized by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) concluded here Sunday.
It was part of the series of programs that Lok Virsa is currently holding under the title “Craft of the Month” with a objective to promote traditional skills, giving knowledge to younger generation about the importance and utility of different crafts and provide opportunity to youth to learn about Pakistan’s rich, diverse and pluralistic cultural tapestry.
It also encourages youth to value dignity of labour, foster ownership for their culture, create respect for different professions and character building. It helped understand the contribution of artisans in the sustainable development of their community and country at large.
A total of forty five students/children from the schools running under the administrative control of Federal Directorate of Education and other educational institutions participated in the program and learnt craft making techniques from master trainers/artisans between 21-27 December, 2015 at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology “Heritage Museum”.
Six master artisans who provided training to children were Parri Bibi in dying craft field of Farasi (floor rug) from remote village Bagh Ali in district Badin, Sindh, Shah Behram in Taghar (floor rug) and Hussain Khan in traditional carpet weaving from far-flung areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sarfraz in Khes, Durree and Khaddar from Kamalia, Punjab, Deedar Ali in Pattu (woolen strip) and Shah Faqir in Sharma (floor rug) from Karimabad, Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan and Fazle Wahab in shawl weaving from Swat valley.
Talking to this scribe, the 70-year old Parri Bibi said “it was a great experience of working with Lok Virsa and teaching craft making techniques to children.
They were keen to know each and everything involved in the process. I tried to transfer my knowledge to them in an interactive manner. Some children were very intelligent and they got a lot in a little time”.
Another artisan Shah Behram told that experience of teaching children was fantastic. He said “though I trained young boys in my native town in Tank district but holding training classes with children of a developed urban area like Islamabad was a unique and memorable task for me. They have even given me ideas and suggestions how can I make new innovations in my craft.”
Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Executive Director, Lok Virsa, said Pakistani children have great potential to learn knowledge about culture which attracts them a lot.
She announced that Lok Virsa is holding the next program on “Block Printing” from January 4-10, 2016. Master artisans in the field of block printing, Ajrak and vegetable dyes will be invited to coach children at Islamabad for a week.
Certificates were also distributed among students of Islamabad Model School for Girls and Islamabad Model School for Boys, G-6-1/3 and G-6-1/2 and special children from Directorate General of Special Education in recognition of their participation in the last program on Doll Making.