Annual festival Qaglasht concluded on 5th Day.
CHITRAL: Annual four days Qaglasht festival concluded at a large green platue of Qaglshast. Thousands of people both local and non local had arrived to Qaglasht ground to enthralled from these colorful events. The festival was sponsored by Sarhad Tourism Corporation (STC) through Chitral Association for Mountain Areas Tourism (CAMAT) who facilitated and funded Qaglasht management committee to celebrate annual festival. Different matches and games as well as traditional games also held on the occasion. The most attractive one was Siah Kaman contest in which shooter targeted a spot which was shooting by old and orthodox guns with explosive and iron coin. There was also falcon hunting where a falcon hunted a bird in presence of thousands of people. Besides it local Para gliders continuously exhibited paragliding during the festival. A musical chair program was also arranged for special people different plays and games were being plaid in thousands of yards width and vast ground of Qaglasht. The ground was fully green by carpeted green grass which was surrounding by snow peaks mountains from four sides. A couple from Multan Professor M. Yaqub and his wife Mrs. Yaqub a college principal told this scribed that they have visited the whole country but they never seen such a beautiful place and peace lover people.
Some 12 teams of Football, 14 teams of Volley ball, 18 teams of cricket, 7 teams of Polo, 2 teams of local hockey, 2 teams of senior citizen football, 2 teams of local cricket (Bodidik), 6 of Sian Kaman shooting competition, 1 Falcon hunting, 6 race competition participated in the festival. Cultural show at day time and local musical concert and night cultural show in the light of burning fire wood was also arranged for spectators and tourists. Some 70 poets read their poems highlighting of tourism and projecting Qaglasht ground which can be convert in an international ground and events to attract tourist from world over. Shahzada Sikandarul Mulk chairman Qaqlasht management committee thanked STC and CAMAT who also chairman board of Directors of CAMAT for sponsoring and providing financial and technical support to Qaglasht management committee to celebrate this colorful event. Member National Assembly Prince Muhayuddin was chief guest during the final match of Polo besides him Member Provincial Assembly Haji Ghulam Muhammad was also present on the occasion. He said that Chitral is a peaceful place and there is no terrorism no extremism in the district that is why a large number of tourists both domestic and from abroad approach the valley to enjoy such colorful programs. He said that if the government sincerely think for promoting tourism through Qaqlasht and other traditional festival we would be able to gain million of fund by this way and would be overcome all of our financial problems.
At last chief guest ACO Mastuj Abdul Ghaffar distributed trophies, Cups, prizes and cash awards among the successful teams. Winner trophy of Football team was won by Kushuum team defeating Booni team. In volley ball Chitral Scouts was awarded winner trophy and runner up cup to Booni team, Cricket winner trophy won by Reshun team and runner up cup by Booni, Polo winner trophy was awarded to Kosht team and runner up cup to Kosht B team, in local Hockey winner trophy awarded to Booni team and runner up cup to Mulkoh team, senior citizen football match winner trophy won by Mulkoh team and runner up by Booni, Local cricket won by Booni team and Mulkoh team was declared runner up one. In firing (shooting target by old and antique Rifles) competition Abdul Baqi of Kosht was declared 1st , Iqbal of Awi second and Hussain Zarin scored third position. Syed Hayat Shah was declared champion of Falcon hunting demonstration, in race competition Imtiaz scored first position and Mansoor second position. Thousands of local and domestic tourists had reached the Qaglasht ground to enjoy colorful programs both in day and night time. Besides it the spectators were enthralled by local music and cultural show.
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