Cultural show: Jashn-i-Hazara festival kicks off

HARIPUR: The 110th Jashn-i-Hazara festival kicked off amid tight security on Monday. The week-long festival, held annually in Haripur, marks the beginning of wheat harvesting. The event will feature several cultural festivities such as a bull race, tanga race, horse dances and tent pegging. Various sports including marathon races, weight lifting, stone lifting, stick fights, karate competitions and kabbadi matches have also been arranged. Local artisans will also display their traditional embroidery. Speaking to the participants on the first day of the event, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah said the festival is taking place despite the law and order situation in the province. He added that the Jashn-i-Baharan at Khanpur Dam and Kaghan Festival will also take place as per schedule.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2012.