Festivals | chitral

Shandur Polo Festival

Passion for Polo is at its highest on the world's highest Polo ground. Every year the tournament is held at Shandur Pass. Visitors are invited to experience a traditional polo tournament between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit July 7th to the 9th. The festival includes folk music, dancing, a camping village set up at the Pass and numerous other activities to enjoy such as fishing, horse back riding, mountaineering, hiking and exploring.

The Polo tournament has some added attractions for visitors; trout fishing at nearby streams and lakes, and a festival of folk music and dancing reminiscent of Northern Pakistan culture. The highlight of the festival is the final match a colorful spectacle and extraordinary extravaganza never to be forgotten.

Supporters of both sides travel long distances from the remote parts of Chitral and Gilgit mountain ranges to watch the thrilling game. The event offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the people of this region, their culture, and indigenous customs, a delight to behold for visitors.

Kalash Festival

Celebrated in Chitral during mid April every year. The festival is called Jashn-E-Qaqlasht dates back to the time immemorial. However some local historians believe that the festival is almost three thousand years old. This event used to be organized by the Rais rulers of Chitral and was continued by the succeeding Katoor family.

After Chitral's merger in the federation of Pakistan, holding of the festival as a calendar event came to an end. The main objective of the event was to protect and preserve Chitral's unique cultural heritage and to give currency to the culture of tolerance, cooperation and coordination through cultural

The Zhoshi festival (Spring Festival)

Zhoshi is the name of Kalashamun festival. It means spring or blossom. The festival derives its name from spring season because it is celebrated in the month of May every year.

The Zhoshi festival, which heralds the arrival of spring, will commence from 14th May in the three Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur. Of the three Kalash festivals, Chilim Jusht lasting for four days is considered to have prime importance.

Young girls and boys sing and dance in groups in the community halls meant for the purpose. Houses are decorated and the Kalash people wear new clothes that are specifically prepared for the occasion.

A main characteristic of the festival is selection of life partner for unmarried boys and girls, who make announcement of their choice on this occasion. According to Kalash sources, more than 60 couples will be announcing their options during the festival.

Tourists have started arriving here to watch the colourful festival of the Kalash people having unique culture and way of life.

Chitral, the home of happy people.

Chitral is exceptionally rich in culture and festivals. This is one of the places where highest number of festivals are celebrated in the whole country. Festivals specified in the calendar year include Zhoshi ‘spring festival’; Ucaw ‘fall harvest festival’; Pũ‘ ‘grape harvest festival’; Cawmos ‘winter solstice festival’ and many more.

The Cawmos Festival (Winter Festival)

The festival Chawmos is celebrated to mark the end of the year's fieldwork and harvest season. It is celebrated when the month called “Chawmos mastruk” starts. Chamos is also called “ghona cawmos yat” which means, the great memorial cawmos festival. The Chawmos festival is celebrated without using any musical instruments in the valleys Rukmu and Mumuret, whereas in Biriu valley they use the musical instruments. It is a series of celebration.

This festival is celebrated after the Kalash finish all their fieldwork and store all the sources of their basic needs. By this time of the year cheese is stored fruits and vegetables and grains are stored. When every thing gets home then this festival is celebrated because this festival requires many offerings. And every ceremony in this festival has its own traditions, foods and songs. For every ceremony there is a specific measure of grain that has to be made into flour. It is the last festival of the year.

Sarazari Festival

Darasguru is a small village in terms of population but the Kalasha peoples here are very delighted and celebrating their festival with religious zeal.

In this celebration the young generation under the supervision of some elders go to the high place where this celebration is always celebrated, there they make fire at two places one for women and one for men. Then the ceremony is begun with the offerings and a prayer on the both places someone washes hands and then the offerings are burnt and prayed. After this boys and girls sings the correspondent songs. They go from house to house singing and dancing.

All families present them food and fruit. At every house the women sing a song called “kul’ani Jes’t’ak.” In this song they ask for different favors in the name of the “Jes’t’ak.” While this song is being sung the women hit a walnut with door side and sing this song.