Staff Correspondent
CHITRAL: The celebrations of the traditional Kalash Uchal Festival concluded in Kalash valleys of Chitral with a large number of tourists from different areas of Pakistan and abroad visiting the area.
The annual festival, celebrated by the Kalash community, is a thanksgiving occasion marking the successful harvesting and threshing of wheat and barley crops.
The festivities featured traditional dances, folk songs and centuries-old rituals attended by members of the Kalash community as well as a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
According to local police, elders and community members took part in traditional ceremonies and gatherings at designated dancing grounds in the valleys. The celebrations also highlighted the distinctive cultural heritage and seasonal traditions of the Kalash people.
On the special directives of Lower Chitral District Police Officer Resham Jahangir, comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place throughout the festival to ensure the safety of local residents and visitors.
Police personnel have been deployed at various locations, dancing grounds and important routes, while special traffic duties are being performed to regulate the flow of vehicles, control congestion and facilitate tourists and local residents.
Authorities said enhanced security and traffic arrangements would remain in place during tonight’s final celebrations in Bamburet to ensure the festivities take place peacefully.
The Uchal festival also reflects the seasonal lifestyle of the Kalash community.
During summer, many Kalash families traditionally move with their goats to high-altitude pastures, where they spend several months producing dairy products such as cheese and ghee.
As the season ends, they gradually return to lower areas before coming back to their permanent settlements.
With the final ceremonies in Bamburet, the Uchal celebrations will conclude after showcasing the Kalash community’s ancient culture, traditions and religious practices to visitors from across Pakistan and abroad.