Famous annual festival revived in Yarkhun

CHITRAL, July 11: Phindik, a famous local festival which used to be one of the most enthralling summer festivities until about two decades back, was again celebrated in the Yarkhun valley with great traditional pomp and show. To mark the event, a mega sports festival was organized in the valley with financial support of BLSO PUNAR, AKYSB and AKRSP. Various games including cricket, football, volleyball, tug of war, donkey polo, local hockey and music were part of the festival. The final of the competitions which were held in various hamlets of the valley was held in Miragram No 2. In the final, Snow Spirit Cricket Club Bang upper won the cricket trophy. Likewise, Miragram, Bang upper, Wasum, Zzuppu, Miragram and Shech teams won the trophies of football, volleyball, tug of war, donkey polo, local hockey (ghaluchin ghal) and music, respectively. Assistant commissioner Mastuj Minhasuddin was the chief guest while famous educationist, poet and author Sher Wali Khan Aseer presided over the function. Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest thanked the people of the area, PUNAR, AKYSB for organizing such a colourful recreational event for the youth of the area. He said that it was only through sports that we can keep our youth away from the evil of drugs etc. He announced that another big tournament will be held in the area which will be sponsored by the subdivisional administration. A competition on curricular activities will also be organized among the students of the area. He said the government had decided to renovate and restore all the historical polo grounds of subdiv Mastuj and in this connection work had already been started from Reshun and Kosht grounds. Speaking on the occasion, Sher Wali Khan Aseer highlighted the historical importance of Phindik on the social life of the people of the area. It may be noted that scores of traditional festivities and games of Chitral have slowly abandoned due to different reasons. For more please read this article at this link:  http://groundreport.com/wither-chitrali-folk-games/]]>