ISLAMABAD, July 28: Baroghil Festival scheduled for July 29- 31 will promote tourism, culture of the valley and create awareness of drug menace afflicting the youth, says a press release issued by the festival organizers.

The festival is being organized since 2000 in the picturesque Baroghil valley, situated at an altitude of 12,000 to 14,000 feet, 230 kms north east of Chitral.

The valley is famous for its beautiful landscape, glaciers, snow-covered peaks, lakes, such as Karombar and Sirkhing. It shares its boundaries with Wakhan corridor via Darwaza pass, with Hunza via Chilinji pass, with Ishkoman valley via Sukhtarabad pass, with Yaseen valley via Darkot pass and with Pamir Plateau via Kurambar Lake pass.

Wakhi tribes living in the valley with their unique culture are fond of music and sports. Their main source of income is livestock.

The important events of this year’s festival, being organized by the HOAP Foundation, Chitral, in collaboration with Tajik Welfare Society Baroghil, are freestyle polo, Buzkashi with horses and yaks, tug-of-war, yak polo, yak race, horse race, mountain marathon, football, traditional Chitrali and Wakhi music, display of traditional lifestyles of the Wakhi tribes living in the centre of Pamir, Hindukush and Himalaya, Murad Akbar Raza, regional programme officer of the foundation, told Dawn.

“The main objectives of the festival are to preserve and promote cultural heritage of the area, promote the soft image of the country, boost economy of the impoverished people of the valley through promotion of tourism and provide healthy recreational facilities to them,” he said.

He criticized the government and media for not promoting the unique culture and tourist potential areas like Baroghil valley.

“There are many places worth seeing, many easy routes to trek. If we could attract people to come to the festival it means they will definitely spend some time in the valley. The more tourists come and participate in the event means the maximum economic benefit to the local communities.”

“We are not hopeful about participation of provincial government functionaries because extremist elements are already against such events. They did try to cancel Shandoor festival this year but it was the federal government which arranged the event. We want the minimum involvement of government in the event because they create hurdles rather than facilitate us,” Mr Murad said.—FA