Gur Mela

FAISALABAD Feb 18: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Tuesday opened Qissah visual and performance art competition and Gur Mela depicting the colors of the rural culture, folk and our rich tradition. It is the part of ongoing Lyallpur Art and literature Festival that will continue till Feb 20. The event inaugurated by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Sarwar Khan along with Senior Tutor Dr Muhammad Iftikhar attracted a large number of students, faculty members, and the general public, offering them an opportunity to explore traditional jaggery and flavors. In Gur Mela, the students clad in traditional dresses have set up the different stalls carrying sweets, saag, makai ki roti, lassi and rural based foods. The traditional foods lover thronged the university to have a delight of these special moments. Visitors were particularly drawn to stalls offering freshly prepared gur, organic jaggery products, and live demonstrations of traditional jaggery-making techniques. Prof Dr Muhammad Sarwar Khan said that nations that ignore their rich culture disappear from the map of the world. He called for tangible efforts for flourishing our rich traditions and intact young generation with our culture. He said that in the modern era, we are changing our lifestyle, food habits and shunning the simplicity. He said that festivals like Gur Mela not only celebrate traditional food culture but also create awareness about the nutritional and economic benefits of jaggery. Dr Shahid Ibne Zameer, Dr Nadeem Akbar, Dr Umair Gull, Dr Nadeem Abbas, Dr Muhammad Tayyib, Dr Muhammad Saghir, Dr Amir Rasul and other notables also attended. Under the LALF, on Feb 19 there will be a Rotary Youth Leadership Award Agri Media Fest, Character Portrayal Competition, APDC (Declamation Competition), and Sufi Night at 6 pm, On last day of the festival Feb 20, Agri Media Fest at 9 am, and Radio Buzz at 10 am will be held.