Patna: Aiming to boost cultural and business bilateral ties, an Indo-Pak trade and food festival opened here on oday for first time, showcasing the ethnic and culinary diversities of the two countries.
About 70 stalls at the four-day festival, 'Aman ke Saat Rang', are exhibiting stonework, footwear, embroidery, jewellery and a variety of dishes.
The fair was inaugurated by Bihar Industries Minister Shyam Rajak said that it is a big medium to "bring people closer".
"This is the land of Gautam Buddha and Sufi saint Makhdoom Yahya Maneri, who aimed at fostering peace among the mankind. This fair is a big medium to bring people closer to each other, and will help improve Indo-Pakistan ties by dispelling wrong notions about each other," he said.
The fair showcases dresses from Karachi, footwear from Peshawar, clothes from Nalanda and chikan work from Lucknow.
Rajak added that the occasion provides an opportunity to see the famous crafts which "we used to read and hear about" and also showcase "the expertise of artists of Bihar in crafts like Mithila paintings, Tikuli art to the Pakistanis who have come to Patna".
The minister also assured the Pakistani delegation participating in the fair that the state government would ensure "they do not face any problem during their stay here" as it believes in "atithi devo bhava" (Guest is God).
The fair is an initiative of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, their Pakistani counterpart in association with Bihar government.
As people thronged the stalls, the sellers from Pakistan narrated their experience of their maiden visit to Patna.
Asma Amir, who has come with party-wear for women as
part of her 'Chollistan Collection', said her grandparents hailed from Lucknow, and her father asked her not to go to Bihar to participate in the fair.
"But I came and it feels so good here. The people are warm, just like us. There is no animosity against us. The rickshaw-puller who ferried me here did not take any money from me when he came to know that I am from Pakistan," Asma said.
Similarly, Karachi resident Iffat Qasim, who has come with formal dresses and designer salwar suits, and another Hijab Khoso who brought her special therapeutic herbal oil and high-end designer clothes were happy at the response of the visitors.
As for the locals, they have welcomed the experience. "The rich embroidery and chiffon dresses from Pakistan are not only good in quality, but also different from the way people make them here. These will add to my wardrobe," said Kanika Singh after buying a few clothes.
A few metres away, the shoppers thought it prudent to energise themselves by eating delicious 'malai boti', 'biryani', 'korma' and 'kebab' of different varieties.
