10-day Chitral festival begins

CHITRAL, Oct 1: The 10-day-long Jashan-e-Chitral was inaugurated at a colourful ceremony held at the polo ground here on Tuesday. A large number of people thronged to the venue to enjoy the event. Before the inauguration of the festival, children were also administered polio drops to launch a drive against the crippling disease. The deputy commissioner and commandant of Chitral Scouts administered drops to children. On this occasion, schoolchildren, police and Chitral Scouts personnel presented march past. A troupe from Chitral Scouts presented traditional dance on the beat of Chitrali music. A competition of tug of war and polo match was also arranged on the first day of the festival.  Deputy Commissioner M. Shoaib Jadoon and Commandant Chitral Scouts Col Naeem Ababs administered polio drops to children. Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner in Khowar language said all the traditional Chitral games and sports had been included in the festival. “We will try our best to provide entertainment facilities to the people of Chitral.”  He also thanked a polio team from Gilgit for coming to Chitral to take part in the festival. He said the cancellation of the Shandur festival 2013 due to the blockade of roads in Gilgit and Chitral had necessitated it to provide the locals with opportunities of festivities. He said that the tourism industry in the area had been closely linked to the sports especially polo and that the holding of the festival will surely attract tourists to the area.  ]]>