Islamabad: In a captivating display of ancient cultural connectivity, a week-long photo exhibition has opened at Lahore Museum, showcasing the cultural connections between Pakistan and Indonesia throughout history.
The curated collection of photographs took attendees on a visual journey at the exhibition titled “Tracing the Confluence of Civilisations Between Indonesia and Pakistan”. The exhibit has been jointly organised by the Indonesian Embassy in collaboration with Lahore Museum.
Rich cultural and historic heritage
Addressing a diverse gathering of guests, Indonesian Ambassador Adam Tugio emphasised the significance of the distinct cultural and historic heritage shared between the two countries. He highlighted that Indonesia and Pakistan are the inheritors of some of the world’s oldest civilisations, with a rich history of religious and cultural exchange. “From cuisine to ancient healing practices, from religious traditions to cultural norms, and from ancient history to modern civilisation, there is a long list of striking similarities between our two brotherly nations,” the ambassador said.
The exhibition aims to highlight the cross-regional cultural influences through a collection of photographs and videos of artefacts, sculptures, and inscriptions from both countries.
Elaborating on the early historic inter-regional connectivity, Ambassador Tugio underscored the importance of the ancient Gandhara region, which is predominantly located in present-day Pakistan’s northwest region. Once a vibrant melting pot of diverse civilizations, Gandhara played an instrumental role in disseminating Buddhist and Islamic cultures to the Indonesian archipelago. “The spread of Buddhist and Islamic civilization to the Indonesian archipelago is also attributed to the influence of Gandhara civilization”, he said.
Pakistan-Indonesia friendship
At the opening ceremony, Mohammad Usman, the director of Lahore Museum, praised the Indonesian envoy’s idea to hold the exhibition and highlighted the historical significance and pivotal role of Lahore Museum in promoting cultural activities. He expressed the museum’s commitment to supporting such purposeful events. Prof. Dr. Javed Akram, Minister of Health Punjab, commended the initiative and stressed the importance of strengthening academic linkages and people-to-people contacts to fully benefit from the strong bonds of friendship between Indonesia and Pakistan.
Ambassador Tugio thanked the Lahore Museum for providing generous support and invited Pakistanis to visit the exhibition and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the two Muslim brotherly countries.
The exhibition, which features interactive displays, will be open to the public until June 24, 2023. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the confluence of civilisations between Indonesia and Pakistan through various engaging presentations. Additionally, the exhibition includes a showcase of spices and popular products from Indonesia, with the support of Indomie, Indonesia’s largest instant noodle producer, also operating in Faisalabad city.
