The ongoing three-day extravaganza Shaan-e-Pakistan kicked off with a mesmerising performance by Amjad Sabri and some exquisite delicacies whipped up by Pakistani chefs. This will culminate in a fashion show today
A soulful qawwali rendition by Amjad Sabri and a scrumptious meal of Pakistani and Indian cuisine kickstarted here Shaan-e-Pakistan, a three-day fashion and cultural fiesta that aims to bring the people of two nations together through fashion, food and music.
Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit inaugurated the fiesta at the Pakistan High Commission here on Thursday.
“This is a brilliant event to bring Pakistani and Indian fashion culture and music together,” he said.
“We hope that both Pakistan and India will be able to overcome their differences, settle their disputes and usher in a new era of peace and development. It will not only benefit our people but also the people of South and Central Asia. This is a historic moment,” he added.
Chefs from Pakistan, Gulzar Hussain and Zakir Naseem and noted chef from India Osama Jalali cooked up several delicacies for the occasion.
The Pakistani chef duo is also participating in a food festival Daawat-e-Maghrib — From the kitchens of West Punjab to Singh Sahib, scheduled from September 14 to 25. The fare includes cuisines from Rawalpindi, Peshawar, lahore and Multan.
“The food theme for the evening is Punjab. I asked the Pakistani chefs to represent their side of Punjab and our chefs are representing our side of Punjab. Its similar food but with different spices and a couple of other ingredients. The Indian chefs are doing meat beliram, butter chicken, dahi ke kebab et al., while chef Gulzar is doing a nihiri and a Peshwari chapli kebab which is made of keema that is deep fried,” shared Jalali.
Calling it an “exceptional event where the two countries are coming together showcasing their expertise,” Jalali added that food is something you can’t keep from any celebration. He said, “It’s an event where people love to enjoy and forget the barriers and they unite. I’ve been getting so many queries ever and people have been telling me that they want to come and try the food.”
Chef Gulzar told us that this is his first trip to India. “I’m very thankful to the event organisers and I’ve met so many people. It’s been fun. It is a memorable moment for me. The people have been very hospitable,” he said. For the evening, the chef and his team cooked a scrumptious Sindhi biryani with aloo Bukhara or plums, malai boti, mutton haleem, et al.
On day two, we cruised through the stalls showcasing designer collections which will be seen today on the ramp at The Grand in Vasant Kunj.
Designer Sanam Agha said that Pakistan is quite progressive when it comes to Western cuts and silhouettes. “People are well aware and are accepting it. You can play with the cuts in a burkha,” said the designer who has blended Western cuts with Eastern taste for her showcase in India. “Indians do not understand our fashion. They are still grasping it but the situation is becoming better,” she added.
Off late, people have started understanding and following traditional Pakistani silhouettes owing to the shows on Zindagi channel. Sahar Atif has been showcasing in India for the past three years and said that Indian taste has evolved. “There are even demands of our designs from India,” she said. Every year, she takes back something from the country. “India uses colour much better than we do. It is a very cost effective way to add value to a garment,” she said.
Designer Romana Ahmed had a different story to say altogether. “I have been coming here for the past few years and I have seen a drastic change in the mentality of people. They do not look for quality, they are only concerned about the price and how cheap a dress is,” she said. She does not take back design ideas and concept but opts for fabrics. “We take back handlooms from Banaras and Mussouri but even their quality have degraded,” she rued.