INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
off today the 14 May 2018
festival is the culmination of religious life and, like the big funerals, they unite the people
The spring festival honors the fairies and also safeguards the goats and shepherds before they go to the pastures
Before the festival the women and girls gather from all over the valley and decorate their houses
Inside the houses local wine and milk products are shared
sacrifice goats to the Gods
Later the festival moves on to Bumburate and ends up at Birir, a few days later.The Kalasha are colourful and ancient indigenous people
They are cheerful, generous, witty and fond of rejoicing and merry making
Their women folk have an outgoing manner that is disarming, delightful and unexpected
Every religious ceremony is accompanied by dancing and rhythmical chant to a beat of the drum
The women wearing their traditional black robes, ornate cowries shelled head dresses and adorned with colored necklaces, dance in a circle
Then the men join in: it may be a man and a women or a man in the middle with a women on each side, lovers being free to intermingle
One hand is held round the waist of the partner and the other round the shoulders
Tribal chiefs (Kazis) in colorful dresses narrate stories of bygone days and events
Deputy Commissioner Chitral Irshad Sodhar is committed to celebrate this event with great pomp and show, he has also invited media personnel
to cover the event so that a positive impression would go the outer world
This will help in promotion of tourism industry and attraction of foreign and national tourists to Chitral
the first time female levy staff deputed for this event to facilitate families
District Admin in collaboration with Distt Police has devised a traffic plan for Ayun-Bamborate road, so that tourists reach with ease
A special helpline desk has also been established at DC Office with number 0943-412519, for the festival
Any issue and update may be send direct to DC Chitral on official Facebook page (Facebook.com/DCChitral) and twitter handle (@DC_Chitral)
Moreover, GoKP Halal Food Authority has been tasked to test the food items, ensure fresh fruits and also regulate the prices of edible items
As per DC Chitral Irshad Sodhar transport union has also been kept in the loop to avoid overcharging from the tourists, special parking lots
have been identified by the Traffic Police in the area
The event is widely promoted on social media as well, Twitter top trend #ChilimJushtFest18 has been noticed at peak hours.
