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    Daachi Arts and Crafts Exhibition 2016: Where Indigenous Craftsmen Meet Art Enthusiasts

    Written by: Momina Mindeel
    Posted on: November 16, 2016 | | 中文

    'Thatta Kedona' (village toys of Pakistan) at Daachi Arts and Crafts Exhibition

    Daachi Foundation, a Lahore based not-for-profit organization, was established in 2010 with an aim to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of Pakistan. The foundation has received nationwide recognition ever since, with Pakistani art and craft enthusiasts keenly awaiting their events.

    Daachi Arts and Crafts Exhibition 2016 in Lahore

    Truck art and craft stall

    This year, Daachi Arts and Crafts Exhibition ran for three full days before coming to a successful close on the 14th of November. The theme for this year’s event was ‘Sustainable Lifestyle’. Since its inception, one of Daachi’s main objectives has been to help reduce the wasteful practices that we as a nation indulge in on a daily basis. ‘Recycle’ and ‘reuse’ have been oft-repeated themes at the Daachi Foundation’s events. This year, the entire exhibition complex embodied the theme of sustainability. The two halls were adorned with a colossal number of stalls, exhibiting handmade objects ranging from carpets, shawls, clothes, bags and shoes to wall hangings, decoration pieces, salt lamps and recycled paper. According to Daachi officials, “Members have worked hard with renewable materials and chemical-free, organic ingredients to make fashion baskets, art materials and beauty products. While their packaging is biodegradable, vendors are encouraged to use fabric or paper bags.”

    Outside, numerous food stalls were set up for incoming visitors, while the two halls inside were bustling with art aficionados. The craftsmen had arrived from various parts of the country including Okara, Gogera, Hunza, Islamabad and Thatta. Amidst the clay pots, truck art themed souvenirs, handmade jewelry, bags and clothes, what immediately grabbed my attention was a stall named Thatta Kedona – a project of Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama based in Gegora, Okara District. The stall was filled with a vast number of village toys, including stuffed dolls adorned in traditional clothes, adorable little earrings with tiny traditional dolls hanging from them, and similar miniature finger puppets and pencil holders.

    Daachi Arts and Crafts Exhibition 2016 in Lahore

    Salt lamp stall

    The stalls selling 100% handmade bath bombs, shampoos, soaps, creams and hair oils were swamped with women. The lady at Sabz Daira told me that her daughter, who looked hardly about 12, had helped her make some of the products. The ethnic footwear, slate-carved products and original salt lamp stalls were equally inundated with art lovers.

    Daachi Arts and Crafts Exhibition 2016 in Lahore

    Slate souvenirs

    Daachi Arts and Crafts Exhibition 2016 in Lahore

    Mosaics by Amna Aslam

    Parwana – a patented company that undertakes environmentally and socially sensitive commercial activity – exhibited beautiful handmade paper products. The company has the capability to transform “cotton-rags, waste paper plant fibers and flower petals into printable paper items such as certificates and report cards, wedding cards and gift boxes, diaries, notebooks, gift bags and other stationery items.” The stall right next to Parwana exhibited some of the most chic footwear with their truck art themed khussas and sandals. Similarly, Baji kay Bastay showcased vibrant desi handbags with the most vivacious colors. One of the jewelry stalls titled The Rich Project exhibited patriotic jewelry, with pendants in the shape of the Pakistani map and gold earrings bearing Pakistan’s flag and the Minar-e-Pakistan.

    Daachi Exhibition epitomizes the incredible talent of our indigenous craftsmen and their remarkable local crafts. Here’s hoping that we get to witness more of such events that promote local talent by preserving our vastly rich heritage.

     

    All images have been taken from the ‘Daachi Foundation’ Facebook page.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021