Bajaur Festival concludes with funfair

KHAR: The two-day Bajaur Festival attracted crowds as the spectacular event concluded here on Monday. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), Tourism Wing of Merged Districts, Bajaur Scouts, and the district administration had jointly organised the event to boost tourism and cultural activities in the merged districts.

Project Director for the Merged Districts Ishtiaq Khan was the chief guest while General Manager Culture Ajmal Khan, General Manager Tourism Sajjad Hameed, District Sports Officer Taj Wazir, officials of district administration, police and Bajaur Scouts attended the event.

The festival showcased various sports competitions such as cycling races, kabaddi, tug-of-war, martial arts, magic shows, poetry recital sessions, local music, traditional Sufi, Waziri, Khattak and Attanr dances, comedy skits, and a play area for children were also part of the gala besides food and handicraft stalls.

On the last day, the festival featured the final rounds of the cycling race and martial arts competitions along with cultural dance performances, local band performances, comedy shows, and poetry recital sessions by local poets.

A 7-kilometer cycling race was held, in which local youth participated. Luqman secured the first position, Waheed clinched the second position and Imtiaz stood third.In kabaddi competitions, the Bajaur Gulona Kabaddi team took first position while the Bajaur Star Kabaddi team stood second.

Similarly, In tug-of-war, the Bajaur Khwanan Tug-of-War team clinched first position followed by the Bolt Star Tug-of-War team.The Spirit Club secured the first position, while the Anheer Club stood second in Taekwondo competitions.

The festival also featured performances by local poets Anwar Zada, Qadir Khan, Sultan Yousaf, Muhammad Ayan, Muhammad Khan, and Gul Yar, who recited their poetry. Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums Zahid Chanzeb has praised the organizers for the successful holding of the Bajaur Festival. He said that similar activities would also be held in other merged districts to promote tourism and culture in the hitherto neglected areas.