GILGIT: Chinese and local artistes enthralled the audience with their performances at a festival held at the high altitude Gulmit valley in Hunza on Wednesday.

The ‘Roof of the World’ (Bam-i-Dunya) is a cultural event featured by folk music and Central Asian dances. The residents of Gojal, where the event was held, claim their descent from Central Asian tribes.

The festival was organised by Bulbulik Heritage Centre, an institution established with support of USAID for promotion of music and language.

Farman Karim, a local resident, told Dawn it was the first time the event was organised in the valley.

A musical event, stalls of traditional dishes, dances to the local music, and other rituals featured the event.

A large number of locals, including women, foreign and local tourists, and Chinese artistes, attended the event.

Local singers dressed in traditional costumes sang local songs, and elders from the area performed dances.

The performance of the Chinese artistes, particularly their dance to local tunes, mesmerised the audience.

The participants appreciated the programme and demanded of the regional government to take steps to preserve the local unique traditions, which attract tourists to the area from around the world.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2016