Chilimjusht festival beginning tomorrow

CHITRAL: The Kalasha tribe is all set to begin celebrating the Chilimjusht festival in three valleys of Bamburet, Rambur and Birir in Chitral district from tomorrow.
The spring festival would be celebrated simultaneously in the three Kalash valleys from May 12-15.The Kalasha people celebrate the spring festival every year in the month of May. Attired in traditional dresses, the Kalasha dance and sing songs to celebrate the event to welcome the spring.
Tourists from across the country and abroad throng the valley to enjoy the festival and beauty of nature in the area.The administration has reopened the road leading to Kalash valleys, which had been closed down due to recent heavy rains in the district.
The hotels in the two valleys were also reopened for tourists after closure of six months. The hoteliers are happy and they say that they expect a large number of local and international tourists to come to enjoy the festival and chilly weather after the hike of mercury in the downtown districts.
The Kalasha people, especially young girls and boys, were seen busy purchasing new clothes and other items to celebrate their festival in a fitting manner.A religious leader of Kalash minority tribe, Qazi Ushthor, told The News that people had started storing milk for the hospitality of the guests coming to the valley to enjoy the festival.He said milk would be used making various dishes, which would be served to the guests. He said the boys and girls would tie the knot during the last day of the festival.