Chilimjusht Festival to kick off tomorrow

CHITRAL: The Chilimjusht Festival is going to kick off simultaneously at the three Kalash valleys of Bamburet, Rumbur and Birir in Lower Chitral district tomorrow (Monday).

The festival, which is also called Joshi, is a spring festival that is held every year in Kalash valleys. The festival will begin on May 12 and will continue until May 16.

Preparations for the festival are in full swing. Roads leading to all the three valleys have been repaired and hotels have reopened for the visiting guests.

For the past two weeks, Kalash men and women have been busy shopping in the Chitral bazaar in preparation for the festival. Houses have been

decorated, and local households have stored milk, cheese and dried fruits to serve to the guests during the celebrations. Special dance venues in all

the three valleys have

also been beautifully decorated.

When contacted, Abdul Khaliq, president of the Hotel Association, said that all hotels had been booked in advance.

However, due to the current tense situation between Pakistan and India, many foreign tourists have now cancelled their visit and subsequently their hotel bookings.

He added that the participation of local tourists remains uncertain. “We will certainly face financial losses, but we are willing to bear them for the sake of the country’s security,” he said.

No domestic or foreign tourists have been seen in Chitral, and it appears that this year’s festival may not see the euphoria as witnessed in the previous years.

The five-day annual Chilimjusht Festival comprises traditional events including dances of Kalash girls and boys to the beat of traditional drums and attended by a large number of people.

The celebrations highlight their cultural richness, plethora of colours and the underlying message of happiness.

During the festival, the Kalash people will seek blessings and pray for the safety of their herds and crops of the community. Women usually dress up in traditional clothes of vibrant colours of

gold and silver jewellery, and elaborate headgears, while men wear traditional shalwar kameez with a woollen waistcoat.

Kalash women and men dance and sing in a circle to the rhythmical chant of drum beats.

Kalash festivals are famous throughout the world and celebrated in different months of the year.