Chatarmus: Kalash religious festival ends

Festival ends with grand concluding ceremony.

CHITRAL: In a grand concluding ceremony, Kalash community’s annual religious festival Chatarmus ended here at Bumborate valley on Thursday. The festival was simultaneously celebrated in the valleys Rubmor, Birir and Bumborate. On the final day, the locals gathered at Bumborate valley to jointly conclude the annual religious festival.

As part of their religious customs, the Kalashi men and women sang songs and performed folk dance to the beat of drums. Teenagers wearing animal hides and masks enthralled the audience with their performances. A number of different colourful events were also held during the festival. By the end of the festival, young Kalashi men and women announced their marriages in front the audience.

A large number of tourists, local and foreign, also attended the festival. Security forces remained on high alert as the event concluded peacefully. This scenic valley is surrounding by thin forest and snow bound peaks of mountains from all sides.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2010.