MANSEHRA: The tehsil government of Oghi has decided it will organise a weeklong cultural festival in the last week of October to highlight folk dance, music and traditional games.

“We are in the process of finalising preparations for the first-ever cultural festival in our tehsil. The event is meant to introduce our centuries old culture and handicrafts to our youths,” tehsil nazim Raja Bashir told reporters after chairing a meeting of the festival’s organising committee here on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the tehsil council had approved the holding of the cultural festival at the Government High School Oghi’s playground and formed a committee to organise it with tehsil naib nazim Zahidullah as its chairman.

Raja Bashir regretted that the youths were fast becoming unaware of the local culture due to the massive use of internet and social media.

“Our youths are ignorant about the traditional Gatka dance, kabaddi, traditional Maya folk music and handicrafts,” he said.

The nazim said the festival would be inaugurated in the last week of October and that it would have competitions of traditional Gatka, Kabbadi and other local games, poetry contests and a Seerat conference.

“We will also showcase handicrafts, embroidered traditional outfits made by our women at home and worn in remote villages and hamlets in remote parts of tehsil,” he said.

The nazim said his government would continue striving for the preservation of local culture.

AFGHANS RESTRICTED: The administration of Mansehra has restricted Afghan refugees to their camps from Muharram 7 to 10 in the district.

The restriction has been imposed under Section 144 of CRPC as part of the Muharram security plan.

On Wednesday, the administration officials met clerics and scholars of Shia and Sunni sects on security measures during Muharram, especially on Ashura.

During the meetings, the deputy commissioner asked clerics not to deliver hate speeches and ensure compliance with the law to prevent trouble during Muharram.

TRUCK KILLS TWO: Two people were killed after a speeding truck ran hit their motorcycle in Dodial area of Mansehra district on Wednesday.

The accident occurred when the deceased, Abul Mateen and his friend, both from Parachinar, were on their way to Mansehra from Battagram.

The Shinkiari police registered a case and began investigation.

In another incident, a boy was run over and killed by speeding car in Mansehra.

Mohammad Saddaqat was taken to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital but was pronounced dead by the doctors. The car driver fled after the accident.

The police registered an FIR and began search for him.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2016