CHITRAL: The Kalash people’s spring festival of Chilim Jusht was kicked off in Rumbur valley here on Monday a day after it got underway in Birir valley. The festival will begin in the major Kalash valley of Bumburate on Tuesday (today).

Hundreds of tourists, including foreigners, have reached here, and hotels both in the Kalash valleys and the Chitral city have been booked in advance.

The Kalash Valleys Development Authority (KVDA) has made elaborate arrangements to help the Kalash community hold their religious festival with comfort as well as to facilitate tourists visiting the valleys.

KVDA director general Minhasuddin told Dawn that to solve accommodation problems of visitors, camping pods and hotels had been reopened, while contingents of tourism police had been deployed to ensure their security.

Tourist facilitation centres set up for guidance of visitors

He said KVDA had arranged free parking lots and launched cleanliness drive in the valleys by installing posters and banners regarding standard operating procedures for the local culture and traditions to facilitate tourists.

“Stalls showcasing local culture are being arranged, and prominent social media bloggers and vloggers have been invited to publicise the event worldwide,” he added.

He said tourist facilitation centres had been set up in Upper and Lower Chitral districts for the guidance of visitors during the event. He said foreign and local tourists could also contact Sayyah Tourism Helpline at 1422 to obtain requisite information before their departure for the extravaganza.

Mr Minhasuddin said that the festival would start with ‘milk day’ custom, in which Kalash people offered libations of milk that had been saved for 10 days prior to the occasion.

“The celebrations will highlight Kalash people’s cultural richness, plethora of colours and the underlying message of happiness.”

“During the festival, the Kalash people will seek the blessings and pray for the safety of their herds and crops,” he said, adding women usually dressed in traditional clothes of vibrant colours and elaborate headgear.

“On the first day, the Zosh ceremony takes place where boys and girls go to the higher pastures to pluck wildflowers and walnut leaves, and dance to the drumbeats.”

“On the second day, peyaik custom (milk drinking and distribution) is held, in which goat stables are decorated with wildflowers and walnut leaves, and singing rituals and ceremonies take place in every village,” Minhasuddin said.

On the third day, the KVDA director general said the villages got together at the top of the village and distributed dried mulberries and walnuts during the ceremony of the newly-born babies.

On the fourth day, during the Ghona ceremony, all the villagers of the Kalash community gathered at the main venue and similar rituals and ceremonies were followed, he said.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2024