Museums allow visitors to take a glimpse into the past and explore different aspects of one’s culture and history. Lok Virsa Heritage Museum is a popular attraction in Islamabad, showcasing the history of Pakistan as well as the customs that are still practised by its people. It was the first state museum of ethnology in the country.
Graana.com provides a detailed overview of the museum below.
About Lok Virsa Heritage Museum
The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage is the organisation in charge of managing the Lok Virsa Museum. Established in 1982, it was formerly known as the Folk Art Museum. It is located on the Shakarparian Hills in Islamabad, covering an area of approximately 20,000 square feet. It is considered to be one of the best places to visit in Pakistan.
In 2002, as a direct result of the Lok Virsa Legal Status Ordinance, the museum was given the status of an autonomous institute. In addition to the museum, there is also an extensive outdoor space that can accommodate up to three thousand people at once.
In 2004, following some upgrades and renovations, the museum was renamed the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology, also known as the Heritage Museum.
Timings of Lok Virsa Islamabad
The museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 am to 8 pm. In addition, there is a prayer break scheduled on Friday from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, during which time guests are not permitted to enter the museum. On Mondays, the museum is closed to the public.
Features of Lok Virsa Museum
Following are some of the most significant features of the museum.
‘Sufis and Shrines’ Hall
A Sufis and Shrines Hall was opened in the museum in 2013, which includes photographs of musicians holding up instruments and reciting poetry by Sufi saints such as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, and Sachal Sarmast.
Additionally, there are images of the shrines of Data Ganj Bakhsh, Shah Rukne Alam, and Bahauddin Zakariya on display. A number of books about the lives of Sufi saints including Bulleh Shah, Sultan Bahu, Waris Shah, and Mian Muhammad Bakhsh have also been published by Lok Virsa.
Library
Over 32,000 books, journals, manuscripts, and field reports on Pakistani folklore, ethnology, cultural anthropology, art history, and craft are housed in the museum’s library, which is also known as the Heritage Library. In addition, over 200 books written by Lok Virsa staff members are included in this collection.
This library in Islamabad is committed to serving the general public, in addition to students, researchers, and scholars. On the topic of Pakistani culture, the general public has access to a substantial number of monographs, field surveys, original research reports, and manuscripts.
Research Centre
To document oral traditions, the Virsa Research and Publication Centre carries out field research, focusing primarily on rural areas. It documents traditional history at the regional, district, and sub-district levels. As the institution does not yet have any branches in other regions, the role at the regional level is being carried out through a network of authors, academics, universities, colleges, and schools.
To accomplish this goal, Lok Virsa not only provides funding for independent research studies but also assigns students from a variety of educational institutions the responsibility of conducting research and writing papers on the different aspects of the Pakistani culture.
It conducts studies on all of the subfields of folk and traditional heritage, such as folk music, folktales, games, and celebrations, both independently and in conjunction with the work of other scholars.
It publishes books on a broad variety of subjects relating to the cultural history and folklore of Pakistan, covering the entirety of the nation’s provinces and regions. After that, the results are compiled into reports and published in books, which are then sold by Lok Virsa and also made available for free at its library.
Virsa Media Centre
Recordings are produced by the Virsa Media Centre, with a particular emphasis on traditional music and cultural history. A total of fifty-one cultural films and three thousand hours of audio recordings have been edited, compiled, and produced with the organisation’s assistance.
Both a professional studio, which is up to date with the latest technological advances, and mobile units that are ready to record or capture any event in any region of the country are in operation. Audio and video cassettes, CDs, VCDs, and DVDs made by Lok Virsa are available for purchase.
A collection of 36 cultural documentaries and over 500 audio cassette labels depicting aspects of the nation’s cultural legacy have been edited, compiled, and created by Lok Virsa. The centre also rents out its professionally produced films and video programmes to television networks, universities, and other types of organisations.
Conclusion
At the Lok Virsa Museum, you will have the opportunity to learn about the vast number of rich cultures that can be found in Pakistan. For more informative content, visit Graana.com.
FAQs
What is meant by Lok Virsa?
Lok Virsa, also known as the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, is a cultural organization in Pakistan. “Lok” means “folk” or “people” in Urdu, and “Virsa” translates to “heritage” or “legacy.” Lok Virsa is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of Pakistan’s folk and traditional heritage.
What is the function of Lok Virsa?
The function of Lok Virsa is to research, document, archive, and showcase various aspects of Pakistan’s diverse cultural heritage. It focuses on traditional music, arts and crafts, folklore, oral traditions, festivals, and other forms of intangible and tangible cultural expressions.
Lok Virsa organizes exhibitions, festivals, performances, workshops, seminars, and publications to raise awareness and foster appreciation for Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage.
What is the name of the Islamabad Museum?
The Islamabad Museum, officially known as the Lok Virsa Museum, is located in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. The museum is part of the Lok Virsa complex and is dedicated to showcasing and preserving Pakistan’s cultural artifacts, crafts, and traditions.
It features a wide range of displays, including handicrafts, textiles, pottery, musical instruments, and traditional costumes, providing visitors with insights into the country’s cultural diversity.
