Kaghlasht festival gets underway in Upper Chitral

CHITRAL: The famous spring festival got underway in Upper Chitral with the traditional funfair on Thursday.Known as Jashn-i-Kaghlasht, the event has started drawing spectators from both domestic and abroad over the last few years, becoming the second most popular festival after the Shandur gala in Upper Chitral. The players and spectators have thronged the lush green venue and the grandeur of the otherwise barren meadow has increased due to record rain and snowfall this year. Known religious scholars Qazi Ghulam Rabbani and Alwaiz Sultan Nigah inaugurated the event along with Deputy Commissioner Irfanuddin.A committee comprising local elders was constituted to hold the event in an organized manner where a tent village has been established to facilitate the tourists. The Kaghlasht meadow is situated between Booni and Mulkhow tehsil in Upper Chitral. Though the event is usually organised in April, it was delayed due to incessant rains.

The orgnisers said that a record number of teams were participating in various games. “The hotels in Booni town have received unprecedented guests and are full to their capacity,” said one of the members of the committee. Many players were staying with relatives and there is a hustle and bustle on Booni roads that continues till late into the night.

Organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) and Upper Chitral district administration on the directives of KP chief minister and CM’s advisor on Tourism and Culture, the festival is also showcasing different sports competitions, including polo, sports for the physically challenged persons, traditional food stalls, cultural show, tug-of-war, skate shooting, marathon race, volleyball, cricket, football, archery and music night. Other games like falcon prey, hockey and activities like buddy dik, quiz competitions, jeep race, mushaira and paragliding are other features of the festival. Speaking on the occasion, DC Irfanuddin said that holding of the Kaghlasht festival was made possible after five years of hiatus.