GILGIT: The vibrant cultural festivities of the 5th edition of the Sarfa­r­anga Cold Desert Rally 2023 captivated thousands of participants.

The three-day event in the stunning Shigar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan will conclude on Sunday.

Sarfaranga, known as the world’s highest cold desert, is perched at an elevation of 7,500 feet in Shigar district of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

On Saturday, 100 jeep drivers hailing from Pun­jab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and GB, including three local women, enthusiastically competed in a 100-kilometre jeep race at Sarfaranga Cold Desert. A total of 57 drivers qualified for the final round.

The event featured a variety of activities, including a thrilling Zakh (raft) competition, free-style polo matches, sword dances, musical performances, local dances, and rock climbing contests. Visitors also had the opportunity to explore 135 stalls offering local foods, gemstones and handicraft.

Saturday witnessed a colorful and culturally rich spectacle, with thousands of participants, including both national and international tourists, as well as locals, enjoying the festivities. Twelve men participated in the raft competition that took place at Blind Lake in Shigar. Shigar team won the free-style polo match.

A cultural evening held on Saturday featured singers performing traditional songs accompanied by traditional music, along with arrangements for traditional Mayfung.

On the first day of the event, paragliding, tug-of-war, javelin throwing and gymnastics added to the excitement.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2023