KARACHI:The fifth annual Sindh Festival, showcasing the people, the garments, the foods and the sounds of Sindh, kicked off on Friday at Clifton beach in a grand ceremony.

A lot of stalls, divided into four streets, were set up on the occasion displaying handicrafts, merchandise, toys, and ornaments from the interior of Sindh.

The city governments and NGOs and the social development departments of many districts of Sindh including Umerkot, Shikarpur, Jaccobabad, Thar, Matiari, Larkana, Badin, Kahirpur, Mohenjodaro, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar and Hyderabad were participating in the festival.

The entire exhibition has been divided into four villages including Arts and Craft Village, Sindh Business Village, Food Village, and Fisherman Village.

Apart from these villages, three standalone pavilions were set up.

These being the “Sindh Pavilion,” having representatives from various districts of Sindh, showcasing the products of these areas, musicians and dancers from Larkana, traditional sweet meats, fish, terracotta souvenirs from Mohenjodaro, and garments and shoes from different parts of Sindh.

A pavilion by the Sindh Small Industries Corporation, which exhibited their products, was also set up besides a pavilion set up by the Rangers’ Anti-Terrorist Wing, displaying equipments, arsenal and weapons that they had seized.

Earlier, as part of the inaugural ceremony, the 83 Wing of the Sachal Rangers presented a spectacular Mishaal Parade, where the troops carrying

fire torches performed different sequences for the viewing

pleasure to the large crowds that had gathered. Captain Fazal Mahmood, a spokesman for the Rangers said that the aim of the Ranger’s participation in the festival was to increase the interaction between the forces and the public, and that when the people and the forces come together for such events, it sends a positive message that Karachi is peaceful as well.

The end of the formal ceremonies was punctuated by a fireworks display.

A large crowds thronged the event and the policy of family first created a more relaxed environment.

Visitors said that the programme was very good as they could learn about the people of Sindh.

Captain Azhar of the Pakistan Army, while visiting the Sindh Pavilion with his family said: “I belong to Jehlum, so this festival is very different and teaches us about different cultures in our country, and these exhibitions teach us about our people”.

Mrs Tanveer, a regular visitor at the Sindh Festival said: “Nothing different this time”. She added that the festival provided an opportunity to buy traditional goods which were not present at large in the markets.

Apparently there was a display of vintage and classic cars.

Zoheb Hassan, the organizer of the event said that this is a festival of not only Sindh but of Pakistan as well. It has a lot of things that would interest people of all ages and all nationalities.

He said the festival has free entry so that the people can come and enjoy.

A large deployment of police and Rangers had been made for security and the roads on which the festival is pitched have been sealed using marquees and containers.

courtesy: the news

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