Chilim Jusht festival starts amid corona outbreak
CHITRAL: Chilim Jusht spring festival is in progress in all the three valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur amid merrymaking, including open door ritual of dancing of men and women at the dancing place called Jastakhan.
Said Gul of Bumburate said the major event of the day was Chhirpeyak ritual which was being performed in Bumburate valley where milk and yogurt was collected from the corrals in each household for distribution among the participants.
She said the festival was being held with simplicity due to the threat of coronavirus and much care was being taken about social distancing and other precautionary measures.
She said that it was for the first time in her life that no tourists came to the area from outside to watch the festivities of the Chilim Jusht festival.
The Chitral police have banned the entry of non-local people into the valleys from Ayun village, the entry point of the Kalash valleys.–SOURCE
Though the KP government has announced to organize schedules tourist events in the province, these events may not draw usual tourists from other areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every year, thousands of people attended the annual three-day Shandur festival in upper Chitral. But this year the first festival of the year at Qaqlasht could not be held due to the pandemic. So far, it is not sure if the Shandur festival would be organized or not.