CHITRAL: Residents of the Garam Chashma valley in Lower Chitral celebrated the Pathak Dik festival on Sunday with religious zeal and fervour, as sunny weather and a public holiday added more colour to the festivities as compared to previous years.

The one-day festival is specific to Garam Chashma valley which is aimed at reminiscing the spiritual seclusion of Pir Nasir Khusraw, a sufi saint of 18th century AD, who had reached here from Central Asia to preach Islam.

A retired bureaucrat Islamuddin told Dawn that as per traditions, Pir Nasir Khusraw spent forty days in spiritual seclusion inside a cave located in Garum Chashma, during which he remained engrossed in the recitation of the Holy Quran.

He said that upon emerging from the cave after forty days, a small amount of flour (pathak) was sprinkled inside the cave as an expression of joy and since wheat flour symbolises the white colour, regarded as a symbol of the journey from darkness towards light.

The festival featured various cultural activities including tug of war, where competitors displayed their exceptional skill and enthusiasm.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2026