Kalash Spring Festival ‘Chilam Josht’ Concludes in Chitral
Chitral Times Report
Chitral : The spring festival of the Kalash tribe, known as Chilam Josht, or Joshi concluded on Saturday after five days of vibrant celebrations and festivities in the three remote valleys located in southern Chitral.
The main event of the closing ceremony was traditional singing and dancing at the central dancing arena in Bumburet, where hundreds of Kalash boys and girls performed group dances for hours in their unique traditional style. Another major activity of the day was a grand procession in which nearly one thousand people of all ages and genders participated. The procession concluded at the traditional dancing site known as “Charsu.”
Participants carried freshly cut apricot branches in their hands, continuously waving them while walking, as part of their cultural and religious traditions.
Kalash people from the other two valleys, Rumbur and Birir, had also gathered in Bumburet Valley to participate in the concluding ceremony.
Unlike some previous years, a large number of both local and foreign tourists visited the valleys during the festival, and hotels across the region remained fully occupied throughout the celebrations.
During the festival, the Kalash Valleys Development Authority (KVDA) facilitated cleanliness, parking arrangements, and tourist assistance services.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, KVDA Director General Fida-ul-Karim said that Kalash culture is ancient and unique in nature. He added that, in recognition of its cultural significance, UNESCO this year included the Kalash valleys of Bumburet, Birir, and Rumbur in its World Heritage tentative list, making this year’s Chilam Josht Festival even more significant.
