GILGIT: The annual Jashn-i-Baharan Polo Tournament kicked off at the Wahab Shaheed Polo Ground in Gilgit on Sunday amid the beats of traditionaldrums and great enthusiasm.

The opening ceremony of the event pulled huge crowds and saw the participation of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, GB Tourism Minister Ghulam Muhammad, senior officials and players of various polo teams.

The participation of the large number of spectators reflected the deep-rooted public enthusiasm for polo in the mountainous region.

The event is being organised by Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA).

A total of 26 teams, including 17 civilian and 9 departmental teams, will participate in the competitions.

The final match of the event is scheduled to take place on May 17, 2025.

Governor Syed Mehdi Shah formally inaugurated the event on Sunday.

According to organisers, the Jashn-e-Baharan Polo Tournament is an annual festival, organised in Gilgit in the month of May.

Mr Hashir, a representative of the GB Polo Association, told Dawn that every year, competitions are held among polo teams in every district, and the winners from district-level competitions qualify for the regional-level tournament that has been held in Gilgit for decades.

He said after the GB Jashn-e-Baharan Polo Tournament competitions, the polo teams are selected for the Shandur Polo Festival, which is held at Shandur Top in July.

“Actually, this event is a preparation for the Shandur Polo Festival, where matches between archrivals Gilgit and Chitral are considered the major attraction of the event.”

Freestyle polo is the region’s most popular traditional sport, and competitions are arranged in every district.

A polo fan, Ali Muhammad, 65, said he has been witnessing the polo competitions for decades.

In earlier times, polo competitions were organised at the state level, and local rulers patronised the sport.

Before the Partition, polo teams from GB participated in international matches in New Delhi and other cities.

Shakeel Ahmed, another polo fan, said the traditional sport of the region — freestyle polo — still thrives in GB.

He said polo is part of GB’s traditional heritage and the local music played during polo matches is also an attraction and a unique feature of the freestyle polo festival.

“These events not only promote sports activities in the region but also create harmony among local people,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2025