Qaqlasht festival to kick off from 18th after 5-year hiatus

CHITRAL: After a five-year lull, the spectacular Qaqlasht festival is being organised in Upper Chitral from April 18.

For this purpose, an organizing committee has been constituted comprising Shahzada Sikandarul Mulk, Shahzada Sultanul Mulk and others to arrange the festival in a befitting manner.

The district administration would provide logistic support and security to the participants.

There was an euphoria among the people of Upper Chitral and Lower Chitral when they heard about the holding of annual festival Jashan-e-Qaqlasht after a break of five years.

Jashan-e-Qaqlasht is an annual festival celebrated over the period of 2000 years on arrival of the spring season in the mountainous region.

It is just like the famous Shandur Polo Festival, there are many events happening at an outstanding scenic location. It represents a true reflection of culture, tradition, civilizations and heritage of mountain people, and the way of life they are living without modern lifestyle and facilities.

The Jashan-e-Qaqlasht features traditional sports and cultural events of the surrounding local communities at the flat terrain at District Headquarters of Upper Chitral Booni - about 75 kilometres from District Headquarters Lower Chitral Town and approachable by a smooth drive of two hours.

When early spring sweeps through the valley, this Plateau type of plain transforms into a gorgeous picnic resort with carpet grass and tiny yellow flowers stretched over miles that attracts a great number of people from different parts of the country and abroad.

The activities of the festival include traditional polo matches, football cricket, table tennis, volleyball, paragliding, zip-lining, rock-climbing skate shooting, tug of war, musical night, traditional dances and varieties of cuisine.