CHITRAL, May 17: The spring festival ‘Chilim Jusht’ of Kalash tribes of Bumburate, Rumbur and Birir valleys in the south of Chitral concluded here on Friday amid merry-making and festivities by the Kalash people.

The major events on final day of the weeklong festival included taking out procession to the central dancing place and grand music show in which young boys and girls sang and danced.

Participation of Kalash in the procession and group dance is obligatory according to the religious dogma of Kalash, said a Kalash ‘Bitan’ (religious leader) Mushti Khan.

The Kalash men, women and children carry fresh twigs of walnut in their hands while going to the central ‘jastakhan’ (the place of dancing) to celebrate the festival.

Unlike past few years, thousands of tourists thronged the valleys on the occasion of the festival. Mohammad Amir, an official of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, told Dawn that hotels in the valleys were packed to their capacity. He said that all rooms of the PTDC motel in Bumburate valley were booked by the tourists, many of them foreigners.

Another important feature of this festival is the formal announcement of the boys and girls who will enter matrimonial relations during the year. Five such engagements were known to be made in Bumburate valley this year, who will formally tie the knot on the occasion of winter festival, ‘Chitramas’, in December.

Special security arrangements were made on the occasion to avert any act of terrorism.