CHITRAL: The winter sport ‘Kreg Ghal’ has started simultaneously in all the three Kalash valleys of Bumruate, Birir and Rumbur to provide a pastime to youth when the area is shrouded in thick layer of snow.

Shadok Kalash told Dawn that Kreg Ghal was akin to ice hockey in which a locally fabricated cloth ball was hit by the stick but the extent of the ground was about a kilometre and the number of player in each team was more than 60 due to the enormity of the field and there was no referee to govern the rules.

He said that usually the match took place between two villages of the valley which was hotly contested and the losing team gave a feast to the winning team by slaughtering goats in the night and musical concert was its integral part.

He said that villagers including women and children kept on cheering their respective teams standing in front of their homes throughout the match, which last for three to four hours.

Shadok said that the major event of Kreg Ghal took place in Batrik village of Bumburate valley and teams from the other two Kalash valleys took part in it. “It is going to take place in the first week of February,” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2025