CHITRAL: Training sessions were held on Wednesday for the young artists to revive, protect and promote age-old traditions of music and dance in the Kho tribe of Chitral.

The activity was organised by Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism funded by the USAID.

The project leader, Dr Inayatullah Faizi, told Dawn that the highlights of the programme included display of art and training by senior artists in traditional dance and songs namely ‘Pasthok’, ‘Nohthik’, ‘Nandooshi’ and ‘Lukzhor’ for young artists of four villages, including Harchin, Chuinj, Chapali and Khozh.

He said that in separate programmes with five hour long sessions, four senior artists trained 48 youngsters willing to perform the traditional dances in future. He added that hundreds of local also people enjoyed themselves by witnessing the training sessions and shows at different places which had been given up since long.

Dr Faizi said that emphasis was laid on imparting knowledge and skill about old traditions in music and dance to younger generation.

He resolved to continue training youngsters in traditional art and craft so the legacy of their forbearers was not lost in the modern technological age.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd , 2014