Window to Ghizer offered at Lok Virsa

Traditional music, dances and products displayed by diaspora

ISLAMABAD: While people can identify with the Khunjerab pass or the Ibex, snow leopards and perhaps even with the iconic Baltit fort in Gilgit-Baltistan, few know about the individual regions.

In this regard, the Ghizer Social and Cultural Forum (GSCF) — a collective of professionals from the remote Ghizer area of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) who are based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi — held an event at the Lok Virsa on Sunday to celebrate the hues and colours of the picturesque district’s indigenous culture.



The event featured traditional music, cultural exhibitions, and dance and theatre performances showcasing the folk culture of Ghizer.

The district, which is located some hundred kilometres North of Gilgit city, borders Chitral to the west, Tajikistan to the north-west and China to the northeast. It is an area steeped in culture and is the origin of the iconic Gilgit cap, the Khoi and the woollen cloak Shokah. It is also home to the snow leopard.

Moreover, Ghizer is home to some five different regional languages including Shina, Khuwar, Burushaski, Wakhi and Gojri, spoken in over a dozen different accents across the region. The UNESCO has already listed Wakhi, Khuwar and Burushaski among the vulnerable languages which have witnessed a drastic decrease in the number of its speakers.

Sunday’s event was aimed at fostering efforts to preserve the indigenous culture and languages which are fast losing relevance due to the onslaught of dominating cultures and languages in a fast-changing world.

G-B Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman was the chief guest of the event, while a number of G-B parliamentarians attended it. “The government of G-B is fully cognisant of the tourism potential of the region, including district Ghizer,” Rehman said.

“We are making every effort to exploit this immense potential to use it for supplementing the socio-economic wellbeing of our people. Ghizer district is our top priority,” he said, adding that the regional government also plans to begin work on the Ghizer Expressway in March 2018.

“Once completed, [Ghizer Expressway] will boost tourism in the area manifolds,” the G-B chief minister said as he appreciated the GSCF for organising an excellent show to promote tourism and preserve culture.

“The event aims at promoting tourism in Gilgit – Baltistan, particularly Ghizer district, which offers immense potential in the field.” GSCF President Waheed Rehmat said.

“We also wanted to showcase our unique and diverse culture which serves as a bond amongst the people. The people of Ghizer love their culture as it inspires positive attributes of love, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and humanity. The enthusiasm of our guests and participants tells me that we have been successful in our endeavour. I am positive that this event will lead to so many more exciting events in the future.”



Noted musicians, singers and artists from G-B enthralled the crowd through their performances.

The traditional music drew natives and other visitors to gravitate towards some empty stage in front of the stage to perform traditional G-B dances.

Stalls were also set up around the premises showcasing local handicrafts, agricultural products and traditional foods from the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2018.