Musicians from Hunza Valley captivate audience at PNCA
By Mahtab Bashir (Daily Times)
* Play native Ghalawaar music as artists perform traditional dance
* PNCA ED says efforts are being made to promote culture of valley
ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: The Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) in collaboration with the Hunza Cultural Forum (HCF) organised a cultural event at the National Art Gallery (NAG) on Friday.
The exotic event featured Hunza Folk Music that highlighted the history of Hunza Valley. The event was organised to promote art and cultural awareness among the students and the people of the twin cities.
A number of musicians, dancers and singers and artists representing the Hunza Classical Group (HCG), wearing traditional dresses, enamored a large audience by traditional dances, and use of Danol (a form of drum), flute, tabla and srangi, producing their native music called Ghalawaar.
Cultural: Speaking on the occasion, PNCA Executive Director Tauqir Nasir said that the Hunza Valley is one of the most beautiful places on the surface of the earth.
He said that efforts were being made to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the beautiful valley. Nasir said that the PNCA had been endeavouring to promote art and culture in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Abbas, Naunehal Shah, Dr Imam Yar Beg and Fayyaz Ahmed said that there was a need to transfer the cultural values of the valley to the youths. They said that the youths of the valley were gradually adopting western culture and norms.
Talking to Daily Times, HCF Secretary Fayyaz Ahmed Dewan said that the forum was striving to promote Hunza culture across the country.
He said, “With the help of the PNCA, we have planned to organise cultural activities in Islamabad so that not only the Pakistani residents of the capital, but also foreigners and diplomats could be educated about the cultural of the gorgeous valley.
He said, “Most of the people of Hunza are Ismaili Muslims, the followers of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. The local language is Burushaski. English and Urdu are also spoken and understood by the most of the people.” According to a recent survey conducted by a foreign agency, the people of Hunza are the most educated in Pakistan, he added.
To respect the sentiment of the people around you is one of the very important aspects of our cultural values. In a time when the nation has lost one of their beloved leader and are observing her first anniversary and we are promoting and introducing our cultural to the nation through music and dance at such time. It may not serve the purpose , which the HCF management is trying to achieve. We have a very rich culture and we do have norms in place for such situations, I think to promote our cultural values among our youth and other peoples are much more important then to limit our cultural to dance, singing and traditional dress. Specially at such situation.
regrds.