early times report
SRINAGAR, July 10: The 2-month long Kashmir Folk Festival, launched by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages on May 4, 2013 at Pahalgam, came to a close on Tuesday with the concluding programme held at Zabarvan Park on the banks of the Dal Lake.
The Festival was organized in collaboration with the Department of Tourism.
In all 51 programmes were held at Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Verinag, Achhabal, Kokarnag, Zabarvan Park and Chinar Bagh. To the delight of the audience comprising tourists and locals, prominent folk artists presented folk forms of Bhand Paether, Dhambali and Chhakri songs.
Bhand Paether, a combination of play and dance, is Kashmir’s folk theatre known for highlighting social, political and environmental themes performed by a company of drummers, clowns and jesters. Dhambali is a devotional dance performed to invoke divine blessings on specific occasions while Chhakri is the most popular folk song of Kashmir played with traditional instruments like Tumbaknari, Rabab, Sarangi and Noat.
Holding of the cultural bonanza was aimed at showcasing rich folk heritage of Kashmir especially at places where a large number of domestic and foreign tourists visit. The weekly events were held at Pahalgam on Saturdays, Gulmarg on Sundays, Zabarvan Park on Tuesdays, Kokernag and Achhabal on Wednesdays, Chinar Bagh on Thursdays and Verinag on Mondays.
A large number of people were attracted to these cultural events listening and watching their favourite artists perform live.
Secretary Academy, Khalid Bashir Ahmad complimented artists for giving wonderful performances and drawing large appreciative crowds.
He also thanked the Department of Tourism and Development Authorities of Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Verinag and Acchabal and Kokarnag and the staff of the Academy for making the festival a major success.
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