Thousands Enjoy Pakistani Cuisine and Culture at Embassy Open House
By Elaine Pasquini
Photos by Phil Pasquini
Washington: On May 4, 2024, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan welcomed visitors to its palatial embassy located among many other diplomatic missions in the upscale neighborhood of Cleveland Park. The design of the building is fashioned in part on the Mughal architecture of the 17th century Naulakhan Pavilion located in the historic Lahore Fort in Lahore, Pakistan.
The occasion was the admission-free Around the World Embassy Tour event presented by Passport DC, a month-long journey around the world highlighting DC’s thriving international diplomatic community which gives tourists and local residents the opportunity to learn firsthand about a country through its culture, cuisine, fashion, art and music.
The all-day open embassy attracted more than four thousand attendees mostly US citizens from Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and other states, nationals of other countries, and Pakistani Americans. Diplomats, government officials, and media from around the world also dropped by to enjoy the festivities.
A highlight for many visitors to Pakistan’s embassy was its delicious cuisine, including the classic spicy biryani, crunchy gol gappay consisting of deep-fried discs of puffed-up dough, yogurt-doused lentil dumplings called dahi baray, and the wildly popular sweet snack jalebi, along with classic Pakistani chai (tea).
Ladies and girls visiting Pakistan’s US diplomatic headquarters waited patiently to have delicate henna designs created on their hands by an expert henna artist. This special art – mehndi in Urdu – has been practiced in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia for over 5,000 years.
Visitors also showed enormous interest in the skills of Urdu calligrapher Javed Iqbal in writing names of visitors in Urdu, the national language of Pakistan. Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, also graciously displayed his calligraphic skill in writing his name in Urdu.
The many stalls in the lively bazaar displayed stitched and unstitched designer clothes, paintings of renowned Pakistani artists, handicrafts, artifacts, truck art, sports goods, gems, jewelry, and agricultural products. Free packages of Sooper soft-baked cakes were handed out to the delight of guests enjoying the food and activities.
While viewing artwork depicting Pakistan’s spectacular scenery and architectural treasures on display in the airy second-floor gallery, guests enjoyed the diverse folk music of Pakistan performed by an accomplished trio.
In the embassy courtyard, a motorized rickshaw (passenger cart) festooned with the country’s iconic multicolored rickshaw art was on display, providing a popular photo opportunity for families and other visitors. In Pakistan, drivers individualize these tiny vehicles with religious or political messages, poetry, and personal artwork.
Ambassador Khan thanked guests for their enthusiastic participation and expressed hope that the event would serve not only to introduce Pakistan to the US and the international audience but would also help in promoting greater people-to-people and cultural ties in the near future.
In turn, visitors enjoyed lively conversations with Pakistan’s convivial ambassador and thanked him and the embassy for providing them with an opportunity to experience the richness of Pakistan’s cultural diversity and learn about the economic and tourism potential of the country.
“This is incredibly beautiful,” observed one guest after viewing the country’s captivating tapestry of natural wonders, from its majestic mountains to lush green fields, pristine beaches, and enchanting deserts, displayed on a giant screen.
(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)
