LAHORE: A three-day festival aimed at celebrating Punjab Culture Day kicked off at the Alhamra Arts Council here on Thursday, with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attending a `Punjab Dehaar` event organised by the Information and Culture Department.

Drummers dressed in yellow and red traditional Punjabi attire performed at the ceremony, also featuring Punjabi folk dances Giddha and Bhangra, besides singing of Mahiye and Tappe. On the occasion, known singer Hina Nasrullah also presented Punjabi Sufi Kalam in her unique style.

The event also featured traditional drummers, horse and camel dance, besides folk music performances.

Meanwhile, an art exhibition featuring works of different artists opened at Ustad Allah Bakhsh Gallery.

Various stalls showcasing Punjab`s handicrafts, turbans, Harappa and Taxila art samples, Gandhara sculptures, embroidery art, solar painting, pencil micro art and calligraphy on rice grains also attracted visitors.

Veteran artists, including Hamid Rana, Sohail Asghar, Rashid Mahmood, singer Arif Lohar and Resham also attended the ceremony, besides foreign diplomats, provincial ministers, special assistants, and officers wearing turbans.

On the occasion, Information and Culture Minister Azma Bukhari said that for the first time `Punjab Dehaar` was celebrated in the province at official level.

She said that the culture of Punjab is so diverse that it can`t be described through words and displaying stalls. Stalls showcasing traditional cultures of each division of the province have been set up as part of Punjab Dehaar ceremony, she added.

She said every city of Punjab has its own unique identity, adding that the Punjab government would introduce packages and incentives for the artists soon.