ADEEB PRESS – www.AdeebPress.com – USA
Pakistan Festival and Music at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA
By SYED ADEEB
(AdeebPress.com) – Pakistan’s 23rd annual Festival will be held on Sunday, 16 August 2009 at the George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Parking Lot K, Fairfax, VA, to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of Pakistan independence Day (14 August 1947). The festival is open to public and admission to this event is free.
Pakistan Festival USA has become a golden opportunity to meet family, friends, relatives, and to enjoy music & entertainment for adults and children. Every child who visits the festival before 4 pm will get a gift. You can enjoy a full day of fabulous music, delicious Pakistani food, booths of latest design of dresses, garments, handicrafts, jewelry, mehndi, special time with family & friends and a lots of fun such as pony ride, Disney characters, etc. This year children will get a free ride on an express train. A number of famous folk and pop music artists from Pakistan will entertain the audience in the afternoon.
The Washington Post, in its Editorial Review of 26 June 2009, states: “The Pakistan Festival USA celebrates Pakistan’s independence day (Aug. 14), the day in 1947 when the South Asian country declared independence from Britain. Sample a variety of the fragrant, rich curries and kebabs that the region is known for, including chicken tikka kebabs, chicken pakora (deep-fried chicken fritters) and chaat papri (dough wafers, chickpeas and potato). Peruse authentic handicrafts and South Asian garb, or get a henna tattoo while Pakistani folk singers and dancers perform. Previous festivals have drawn visitors numbering well into the thousands; this year’s festival is a big enough deal that organizers plan to broadcast the event live via satellite to television viewers in Pakistan.”
Zahid Hameedi, Chairman of the Pakistan Festival USA, recently told the Adeeb Press: “The main objective of the Pakistan Festival is to share the rich traditions of Pakistani culture and heritage, and rekindle the purpose and ideals for the creation of Pakistan. The festival offers a special venue for youth and adults alike for developing friendships, inter-generational dialog and outreach, both within the communities and across borders.”
He went on to say: “The Pakistan Festival is typically attended by thousands of families from Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. There will be ample activities for children, including hot air balloon rides, games, a junior fashion show, sweets and candies, and a gift for every child. Pakistani flags will be distributed to the participants. There will be booths of Pakistani handicrafts, costumes, bangles, jewelry, mehndi and fresh cooked, authentic Pakistani food. The governors of Maryland and Virginia would issue proclamations to declare Pakistan Day in their respective states. Several U.S. and Pakistan government officials, U.S. Congress members and public officials are expected to attend the event and issue special messages on the occasion.”
The first Pakistan Festival was organized on 14 August 1987 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, USA. That huge gathering of Pakistani-Americans from VA, MD and DC laid the foundation of a united community of over one million Pakistani-Americans in the USA who cherish freedom, soverignty and independence of their homeland.
Subsequent Pakistan Independence Day celebrations were held at the Washington Monument (Sylvan Theatre), DC Armory and Montgomery Fairgrounds. The Pakistan Festival is organized by its Chairman Mr. Hameedi and many volunteers. It is the result of hard work of many American citizens from all walks of life. Support from local businesses and professionals helps in transforming this grand event into a useful network of thousands of Pakistani-Americans.
For more information, call 202-431-3099 or visit: www.PakistanFestivalUSA.com
[Mr. Syed Adeeb is an investigative journalist, Chief Editor of the Information Press, TV-Video Documentary Film Producer, IT Consultant and human rights advocate based in Virginia, U.S.A.
www.SyedAdeeb.net - Wednesday, 1 July 2009]
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