By Zahiruddin
CHITRAL: The winter festival of Kalash people concluded here on Friday which lasted for eleven days while pleasant weather prevailing in the Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur added color to the festivities.
Most important from spiritual point of view, its closing day coincides with the first day of the year of Kalash calendar and prediction was made for the New Year on this occasion for which a grand ceremony was held in the Bumburate valley.
An official of police witnessing the event, told Chitral Times that as per custom, the captivated fox was set free to note the orientations of its movement to make predictions on the basis of it.
The panel of bitans (Kalash religious leaders) drawn from all the three valleys reached at a concluded that the year will prove a pleasant one and gladness and happiness will prevail in the valley during the year with lesser dangers of flash floods in the summer.
He said that the groups of men and women who had gone to seclusion at the advent of the festival as one of the obligations of their dogma, also came out on this occasion who were given a warm reception.
Such people had volunteered to remain in seclusion in the cattle houses to please their gods and goddesses while yet another conspicuous feature of the final day of the festival was the announcement of the engagements of the loving birds who will knot the ties in the spring festival Chilim Jusht to be held in the month of May.
The number of such engagement could not known exactly in all the three valleys but in Bumburate valley, the number was said to be 21.
He said that hundreds of goats were slaughtered in the valleys as part of the festival which is also considered to seek the pleasure of their gods.
Due to the intense climate in the valleys due to the snowfall, the Kalash people will virtually go on hibernation during the three months of winter season and will consume the food stored by them.
