From October 10 to October 13, the George Washington University’s Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies hosted the “Crafts and Couture from Central Asia” festival. The festival was organized during the 20th Annual Central Eurasian Studies Society Conference (CESS 2019). The cultural event brought together artisans from Central Asia and private collections from both the US and Canada, displaying a wide range …

“When there is oppression and dictatorship, by not speaking out, we lose our dignity.” Asma Jahangir (1952 – 2018) Herald Report Ajoka Theatre presented a play “Saira aur Maira” last weekend at Lahore’s Alhamra Art Centre during an international conference as a tribute to Asma Jahangir, an iconic figure,  a defender of human rights and democratic values, champion of the downtrodden, …

Anthropologist Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro takes us to an invaluable site in the Indus-Kohistan region. While traveling along the Karakorum Highway, one comes across many rock art sites that need to be promoted as potential tourist destinations. Sadly, they escape the attention of the authorities. Rock art tourism plays a significant role in the local economy of communities in many of …

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XV_DakljtmQ HAH Report A group of socially-conscious documentary makers has documented the life, social setting, culture and collective struggle of a community in Punjab’s Chiniot District and how they are leading a happy life, making collective efforts to address social and climate change issues through music, art, and sports. Laila and Zarrak are filmmakers and social activists. They are making …

Young people select their future life partner; tourists complain about dilapidated roads, lack of facilities in Kalash valley   By Karimullah & Gul Hammad Farooqi CHITRAL: The three-day Uchawo festival concluded at Bumburet here on Thursday amid great fanfare, dances, music, prayers and pledges for spending life together by young couples at Bumburet, Kalash valley of Chitral District. The festival …

A documentary by an award-winning Pakistani filmmaker shows the lives of traditional musicians, musical instrument makers and the challenges they face by Omair Ahmad Indus Blues is an aural and visual delight, and it is no wonder it is winning, and being nominated for, a slew of awards. A 75 minute documentary on the folk musicians of Pakistan by the young filmmaker …

Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro on the ornate and unique graves that tell a story of timber, power and upheaval   by Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro   here are many carved wooden grave railings in Tangir and Darel in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan. Such monuments are also located in many areas of Indus-Kohistan, Dir-Kohistan and Swat-Kohistan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where I am doing research for …

In the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, thousands of young girls and women are kidnapped every year to be forced into marriage. Although the practice was outlawed in 2013, bride kidnapping continues to exist, with destructive consequences for society. By Iris Oppelaar With WILDNESS, Iris aims to de-sensationalize the practice of bride kidnapping and instead reveal the motives and societal …

When we talk about the carpets of Central Asia, we typically mean those produced by Turkmens. However, the production of this homemade handicraft was historically widespread among other peoples of the region: Karakalpaks, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Arabs, Tajiks, and Uzbeks, Emira Gyul. She focuses specifically on the Uzbek tradition of carpet weaving. by Elmira Gyul Carpet-weaving is an amazing art with which mankind …

While we’re losing biological diversity, we’re also losing linguistic and cultural diversity at the same time. This is no coincidence. By Chi Luu The world is getting uncomfortably warm. At present, much of Europe is suffering under a heatwave of record-breaking temperatures. It’s so hot that piles of manure are spontaneously combusting and setting off wildfires in Spain. Across the pond, mussels looking …