HYDERABAD: Twoday Sufi Melo began under the aegis of Sindh culture department at Sindh museum here on Saturday evening.

Sindh Minister for Culture Syed Zulfikar Ali Shah inaugurated the event along with Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro.

He said at the gathering that Sufi Melo was indeed a great initiative. A `Lahori melo` on similar pattern would be organised in Larkana, he said.

He said that similar events would be held in Sukkur as well. `Desert safari train` had also reached Tharparkar on Saturday, he said.

Folk singers enthralled the participants with Bhitai`s waees at the ceremony.

The minister said that all cultural activities which featured in any festival were in fact part of Sindh`s identity. Sindh always promoted peace, hospitality and brotherhood, and Sufi melo reflected Sindh`s unique mystic colours and universal love for humanity,he said.

He told journalists later that horse riding was a quite popular sport in the province and the culture department would certainly strive to promote it.

He said the department was prompting festivals and melas where artists were provided a platform to showcase their art.

The mayor said thatSufi melo was a healthy activity and praised the minister for promoting it.

People always took keen interestin such events,he said.

An exhibition of models prepared by students to portray issues of water, history and heritage preservation was also held on the sidelines of the festival.