Kalash youth chill with 'Snow Golf'

Residents enjoy Kirik Ghal competition amid harsh winter

CHITRAL:

As snow piles up on the mountains and valleys in the scenic Kalash valley and mobility becomes difficult for the local residents in the middle of the harsh winters, it is time to play golf!

The locals called it 'Kirik Ghal' or snow golf. It comes in the form of competitions for the local youngsters to keep their bodies warm and spirits high.

The snow golf competitions are being held on a daily basis, particularly in the Batrik village of Bamburet, which is a sacred place for the Kalash tribe for being the seat of the ancient rulers.

These days, Kalash boys are busy playing snow golf from morning till evening. The sport has become a good activity in the chilling cold weather over the Hindu Kush range.

Playing Kirik Ghal on winter snow in different Kalash valleys is a favorite pastime of the youth, in which men and women participate with great enthusiasm to encourage their own team.

These competitions continue till the snow melts in April. Last year, a team from Garam Chashma's Gabor was also allowed to participate in the competition for the first time.

The Kalash Valley has been resonating with voices of appreciation to the cities and players during the snow golf competitions.

Meanwhile, the white blanket of snow has turned the views of the lands, houses, forests and mountains surreal.

Local residents told The Express Tribune that Kirik Ghal is actually a Nuristani game, which was imported from Nuristan, Afghanistan to the Kalash valleys of Chitral centuries ago. It has become a popular game for the residents, who wanted to stay healthy and busy during the freezing winters.

Now the people of Sheikhan, Kalash and Kho tribes living in the Kalash valleys play this game together.

In December, the ancient Kalash Festival, Chawmos, concluded with its traditional vibrancy and drumbeats despite the harsh winter.

Kalash men, women, and tourists thoroughly enjoyed the festival's dances. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa minister for population Welfare and the Integrated Tourism Development Authority (KITE) chief were the chief guests at the event.

After the end of the festival Kalash youth began the traditional search for a fox in the nearby mountains.