All preparation ready to celebrate annual festival of Kalash community “ Chelum Josht”.
CHITRAL: All arrangements and preparation are completed to celebrate 3 days annual religious and cultural festival of Kalash Community “ Chelum Josht” in 3 three valley of Kalash . Chelum Josht will be launched on May 13, at Rumboor and May 14 at Bumborate and Berir as the final function will be held at Bumborate the headquarters of Kalash community on May 15. Thousands of local and hundred of foreign tourists expected to join the final program of the festival. Chelum Josht is religious, cultural and traditional festival of Kalash community celebrating from thousands of years in these 3 valleys by Kalash people. Kalash community which rules Chitral some 500 years ago and later on they converted into three valleys. Hence their number is decreasing day by day due to so many factors like conversion of Kalash towards Islam, increasing number of mortality ratio and lack of basic amenities. Hence some 3000 population of Kalash existing in 3 valleys. They white wash the dancing place (jashtakan) and other important localities where they celebrate their festival.
Kalash people have been started their preparation to celebrate their annual festival. They sewing new cloths, and purchasing gifts to present to their guests coming to their houses. Kalash valleys surrounding by high and rich green mountains from four sides is presenting a paradise look consisting on very attractive sceneries. As well as Kalash valley is famous for Trout Fish, milky water and pleasant environment. Kalash people collecting milk, local wine (grapes water), dry fruit and other food items to present it to guests arrive to their homes. They also presents hand made items of handicrafts to their guests. During the festival they perform folk and traditional dance and singing to welcome on the arrival of spring season. The teenagers also arrange their marriage on the last day of the festival. Kalash communities which are the rarest genealogy of the world having unique culture, dress, tradition and customs. They celebrate 4 festivals a year and famous for their hospitality. In past there was no concept of education but now these people are educated and the first woman commercial Pilot Lakshan Bibi also belongs to Kalash community. It is worth to mention here that there is no other Kalsh in the world except Chitral Pakistan which are famous for their very unique culture and tradition. Who dancing and singing in case of death of Kalash person and slaughter so many goats at that time. As a result Kalash people always remain poor due to their extra ordinary and unnecessary expenditures on their death.
Door to door polio campaign continues at Chitral.
CHITRAL: 3 Days door to door anti polio drive is continuing in Chitral with full fledge and health teams administering polio drops and Vitamin A Capsules to children upto the age of 5 years. Thousand of children would be administered polio drops during the recent round of National Immunization Days (NID) started from May 6th which will be continue to May 8. Catch up day will be held on May 9 and sweeping day on May 10 to assure that no child was left without polio drop and Vitamin A capsule. EDO Health Dr. Sher Qayum and EPI coordinator Dr. Inayatullah have appeal the parents to cooperate health team and must administer polio drops to their children upto the age of 5 years so as to declare Chitral a Polio free district and save our children from polio disease which disabling them for ever.
G.H. Farooqi PO Box No. 50 GPO Chitral Pakistan phone # 0943-302295, 414418, 03025989602