CHITRAL: The three-day Baroghil festival will start from August 14 in Baroghil valley, which is known to be the roof of the world as it is located 13,000 feet above sea level.

Freestyle wild polo, yak polo, horse race, mountain marathon, yak race, tug of war, Buz Kashi, lifestyle shows and handicraft exhibition are the main features of the festival.

Baroghil is famous for its beautiful landscape, snow covered peaks, the majestic Karambar Lake and more than 25 other small lakes with three major passes connecting the valley to Wakhan Corridor in the west through Kankhun Pass. The valley is 260 kilometres from Chitral city and is accessible only by jeep, which takes 12 to 15 hours to reach there.

Murad Akbar, a local tour operator, told Dawn that this year the festival was being organised on national scale where eco-tourists were expected to turn up in large numbers due to the scorching heat in the plains and end of Ramazan. “Previously, the festival used to be organised at local level by a local youth organisation on limited scale,” he added.

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Akbar said that the valley was considered to be the paradise for eco-tourism having been bestowed with five glaciers, 35 lakes and many hot water springs.

He said that music remained the most exciting part of the festival with the participation of people from all age groups, while some old traditional foods were cooked, suiting the tastes of tourists. “Elder people showcase traditional dresses like Warang (large cloak made of wool), Khon (hand made long leathered shoes), Tulpack (woolen leathered cap) and a two-piece woolen dress, which makes the festival a complete cultural event,” said Murad Akabar.

He said that arrangements of food and accommodation had also been made by the tour operators in the valley and that the tourists need not be worried about that.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014