Shandur Polo Festival Tour
Shandur Situated at the elevation of 3700m above sea level invites visitors to experience a traditional polo tournament which since 1936 has been held annually in the first week of July between the teams of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The tournament is held on Shandur Top, the highest polo ground in the world at 3,700 meters (the pass itself is at 3,800 meters). The festival also includes Folk music, dancing and a camping village is set up. Various teams of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral have always played the game of polo closest to its original form.
In order to decide the final teams to play at the Shandur Polo Festival preliminary matches are played both in Gilgit and Chitral in which the best horses and players are chosen for the final games by the local juries. The festival begins on the 7th of July with a polo match between the local Laspur Team and Ghizer Team of Gilgit-Baltistan, from Chitral. During the course of the tournament A, B, C and D teams of Gilgit and Chitral battle it out on the polo field. Each team has six members with 2-4 reserve players in case of injury etc. The match duration is usually one hour. It is divided into two halves, with a 10 minutes interval. During intervals the locals enthrall the audiences with traditional and cultural performances. The game decided in favor of the team scoring nine goals. The final is held on 9 July. The festival also includes folk Music, folk Dances, traditional sports and temporary tent village is setup at the pass to cater the needs.
The field measures about 200 meters by 56 meters (normal polo field is about 270m by 150m), with 60 cm high stone walls running the length of the field on both sides instead of boards. As six players make up one side, the field can get fairly crowded. This has the advantage of slightly slowing down the pace, which, all things considered, is probably somewhat safety-enhancing. Players rarely wear helmets, The horses` legs often have no bandages, and mallets often have no grips or straps.
History
Historically, polo being the king of games was played between small kingdoms, villages and rival groups of Gilgit and Chitral. From 1936 onwards polo tournaments were held annually on this ground. The three day Shandur Polo Festival has developed steadily in recent years into the massive celebration of mountain polo that it is today. It is attended every year by prominent celebrities, public figures and opinion makers.
Facts
I T I N E R A R Y
Day 1
Arrival Islamabad (Hotel).
Day 2
Fly to Gilgit or drive to Chilas in case of flight
cancellation. Hotel.
Day 3
Drive to Gilgit on Karakoram Highway. Hotel
Day 4
Switch over into 4WD vehicle drive
to Phander. Hotel.
Day 5
Continue to Shandur Pass. Tent
Day 6
Enjoy the Polo matches and spend the day. Tent
Day 7
Witness the final match between
Arch rivals Gilgit and Chitral. Immediately after the match proceed to
Chitral. Hotel.
Day 8
Drive to Bumboret. Spend the day
by strolling around the valley and meet traditionally dressed up Kalash
people. Enjoy their customs & dancing. Hotel.
Day 9
Fly to Islamabad 1 hour (subject
to weather) or drive to Islamabad. Hotel.
Day 10
Full day at leisure and shopping
in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.
Day 11
Full day sightseeing to Taxila sites and Museum.
Day 12
Drive to airport for homebound
flight.
Kalash Summer Festival
Overview
The Kalash are cheerful people, generous, witty and fond of rejoicing and merry making. Their women folk have an outgoing manner that is disarming, delightful and unexpected. As you join them in their festivities and see them dance and sing, you are taken right back into history.
The Kalash have four colourful festivals.To the Kalash these festivals are the culmination’s of religious life and, like the big funerals, they unite the people.
Uchal festival (August 20-22): In August marking the harvest of wheat and barley and bringing down of cheese from the high summer pastures. It is celebrated in Rumbur and Bumboret . Earlier in July it starts as the “ Ranat” with dances held on alternate days performed by the young girls and boys in order to safeguard the maize crop.
Facts
I T I N E R A R Y
Day 1
Arrival Islamabad (Hotel).
Day 2
Fly to Gilgit or drive to Chilas in case of flight
cancellation. Hotel.
Day 3
Drive to Gilgit on Karakoram Highway. Hotel
Day 4
Drive to Chitral. Hotel.
Day 5
Drive to Bumburet, Kalash valley.
Hotel
Day 6-8
(Aug 20-22) Kalash summer festival
Uchal and enjoying the Kalash Girls’
dance. Hotel
Day 9
Drive back to Chitral.visit to
Tooshi for Wildlife watching and Photography. Hotel.
Day 10
Fly to Islamabad 1 hour (subject
to weather) or drive to Islamabad. Hotel.
Day 11
Full day at leisure and shopping
in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.
Day 12
Departure
Overview
Shandur Situated at the elevation of 3700m above sea level invites visitors to experience a traditional polo tournament which since 1936 has been held annually in the first week of July between the teams of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The tournament is held on Shandur Top, the highest polo ground in the world at 3,700 meters (the pass itself is at 3,800 meters). The festival also includes Folk music, dancing and a camping village is set up. Various teams of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral have always played the game of polo closest to its original form.
In order to decide the final teams to play at the Shandur Polo Festival preliminary matches are played both in Gilgit and Chitral in which the best horses and players are chosen for the final games by the local juries. The festival begins on the 7th of July with a polo match between the local Laspur Team and Ghizer Team of Gilgit-Baltistan, from Chitral. During the course of the tournament A, B, C and D teams of Gilgit and Chitral battle it out on the polo field. Each team has six members with 2-4 reserve players in case of injury etc. The match duration is usually one hour. It is divided into two halves, with a 10 minutes interval. During intervals the locals enthrall the audiences with traditional and cultural performances. The game decided in favor of the team scoring nine goals. The final is held on 9 July. The festival also includes folk Music, folk Dances, traditional sports and temporary tent village is setup at the pass to cater the needs.
In order to decide the final teams to play at the Shandur Polo Festival preliminary matches are played both in Gilgit and Chitral in which the best horses and players are chosen for the final games by the local juries. The festival begins on the 7th of July with a polo match between the local Laspur Team and Ghizer Team of Gilgit-Baltistan, from Chitral. During the course of the tournament A, B, C and D teams of Gilgit and Chitral battle it out on the polo field. Each team has six members with 2-4 reserve players in case of injury etc. The match duration is usually one hour. It is divided into two halves, with a 10 minutes interval. During intervals the locals enthrall the audiences with traditional and cultural performances. The game decided in favor of the team scoring nine goals. The final is held on 9 July. The festival also includes folk Music, folk Dances, traditional sports and temporary tent village is setup at the pass to cater the needs.
Polo the Game of Kings, and the king of all games are traditionally played in the Northern areas of Pakistan and Chitral for over the centuries, it has been played between the small kingdoms, villages and rival groups for the deciding of the disputes among them, and the losing team has to be lost of the land, territory, or pay the heavy fine and some times death punishment. the free style polo game have been practicing for the centuries between the traditional rival teams of Gilgit and Chitral each summer month of July on the Shandur pass (3734 meters) the highest polo field in the world. a three days polo tournament organized by the Gilgit and Chitral polo clubs and local administration. during the polo tournament you sleep on the comfortable two person tents with facilities of a mess and toilet tents. your cook will prepare the hearty and delicious meals for you every day.
The field measures about 200 meters by 56 meters (normal polo field is about 270m by 150m), with 60 cm high stone walls running the length of the field on both sides instead of boards. As six players make up one side, the field can get fairly crowded. This has the advantage of slightly slowing down the pace, which, all things considered, is probably somewhat safety-enhancing. Players rarely wear helmets, The horses` legs often have no bandages, and mallets often have no grips or straps.
History
Historically, polo being the king of games was played between small kingdoms, villages and rival groups of Gilgit and Chitral. From 1936 onwards polo tournaments were held annually on this ground. The three day Shandur Polo Festival has developed steadily in recent years into the massive celebration of mountain polo that it is today. It is attended every year by prominent celebrities, public figures and opinion makers.
Facts
Range: Hindukush
Duration:
12 Days
Festival
Dates: 07, 08 & 09 July
Altitude:
Min 60m – Max 3700 m
Zone:
Open
Trip
Nature: Soft
Adventure
Best
Time: July
I T I N E R A R Y
|
|
Day 1
|
Arrival Islamabad (Hotel).
|
Day 2
|
Fly to Gilgit or drive to Chilas in case of flight
cancellation. Hotel.
|
Day 3
|
Drive to Gilgit on Karakoram Highway. Hotel
|
Day 4
|
Switch over into 4WD vehicle drive
to Phander. Hotel.
|
Day 5
|
Continue to Shandur Pass. Tent
|
Day 6
|
Enjoy the Polo matches and spend the day. Tent
|
Day 7
|
Witness the final match between
Arch rivals Gilgit and Chitral. Immediately after the match proceed to
Chitral. Hotel.
|
Day 8
|
Drive to Bumboret. Spend the day
by strolling around the valley and meet traditionally dressed up Kalash
people. Enjoy their customs & dancing. Hotel.
|
Day 9
|
Fly to Islamabad 1 hour (subject
to weather) or drive to Islamabad. Hotel.
|
Day 10
|
Full day at leisure and shopping
in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.
|
Day 11
|
Full day sightseeing to Taxila sites and Museum.
|
Day 12
|
Drive to airport for homebound
flight.
|
Kalash Summer Festival
Overview
Overview
The Kalash are cheerful people, generous, witty and fond of rejoicing and merry making. Their women folk have an outgoing manner that is disarming, delightful and unexpected. As you join them in their festivities and see them dance and sing, you are taken right back into history.
Facts
Range: Hindukush
Duration:
12 Days
Festival
Dates: Aug 20-22
Altitude:
Min 60m – Max 3000 m
Zone:
Open
Trip
Nature: Soft
Adventure
Best
Time: August
I T I N E R A R Y
|
|
Day 1
|
Arrival Islamabad (Hotel).
|
Day 2
|
Fly to Gilgit or drive to Chilas in case of flight
cancellation. Hotel.
|
Day 3
|
Drive to Gilgit on Karakoram Highway. Hotel
|
Day 4
|
Drive to Chitral. Hotel.
|
Day 5
|
Drive to Bumburet, Kalash valley.
Hotel
|
Day 6-8
|
(Aug 20-22) Kalash summer festival
Uchal and enjoying the Kalash Girls’
dance. Hotel
|
Day 9
|
Drive back to Chitral.visit to
Tooshi for Wildlife watching and Photography. Hotel.
|
Day 10
|
Fly to Islamabad 1 hour (subject
to weather) or drive to Islamabad. Hotel.
|
Day 11
|
Full day at leisure and shopping
in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.
|
Day 12
|
Departure
|
Kalash Winter Festival
Overview
Chomos/Chitirmas festival (Dec 15-22): As winter starts around mid December the Chomosfestival begins . The festival is observed for the divine, the living and dead relatives, for the crops and the goats to be safeguarded, while the community, the village and the valley are purified prior to the coming year. Sighting a fox is a good omen and great efforts are made in this regard. At dusk torch lit processions are led from all the nearby villages culminating at the “Charsue” which is the main customary dancing place. Most of the festivities are indoors where the local wine is handed around as the dance gathers momentum carries out till late in the night round the bonfire. While the tribal elders sit on hill tops at dawn to watch the rising sun and declare the new year. Goat sacrifices are then made to the Godess “Jastak” , blood from the animal is sprinkled at the temple Jastak An. This is the time when “Balimine” another great God visits the Kalash valley once a year and sacrifices are made at his “ Malosh. Altar” too.
Facts
Range: Hindukush
Duration:
16 Days
Festival
Dates: Dec 15-22
Tour
Customization Yes
Altitude:
Min 60m – Max 3000 m
Zone:
Open
Trip
Nature: Soft
Adventure
Best
Time: December
I T I N E R A R Y
|
|
Day 1
|
Arrival Islamabad (Hotel).
|
Day 2
|
Fly or drive for Chitral. Hotel
|
Day 3
|
Drive (2hrs) to Bumburet, Kelash Vallye. Camp.
|
Day 4-11
|
(Dec15-22) Well experience of Kalash Winter Festival and enjoying
the Kalash girls’s dance and other activities. Camp
|
Day 12
|
Drive back to Chitral, afternoon
visit to Tooshi for wildlife watching and photography. Hotel
|
Day 13
|
Drive back to Chitral. Hotel
|
Day 14
|
Fly to Islamabad or Drive to
Besham in case of flight cancellation. Hotel
|
Day 15
|
Full day at leisure and shopping
in Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Hotel
|
Day 16
|
Departure
|
Kalash Spring Festival
(Joshi /Chilimjusht)
The
Kalash believe they are originally from Tsiam, although no one yet knowswhere
that is. It is more likely they are descendants from Indo-Aryans (about
2000BC). Many historians believe the
Kalash are descendants of the soldiers of Alexander the Great.
The
kalash valleys of Rumbur, Bumburet and Birir are within Chitral District of
Pakistan. The kalash people are the only non-Muslims for hundreds of miles. They
may be a little wary of strangers, but usually do welcome who wants to become
acquainted with the kalash way of life.
The
3500 Kalash of the valleys live in unique houses made of local stone and wood
which are stacked on top of one another at steep hillsides. The roof of one
house is the verandah of another, on top of the lower house. They make their
living with staple crops like
lentils
or wheat and by goat herding. Life is very traditional, like in many parts of
the world, and the work division between men and their women is elaborate. Family
life, cattle herding and harvesting form their main livelihood with the
occasional distraction of a festival or two. Women move into a Bashaleni house
when giving birth and also when they are menstruating. Many aspects of the
society are both communal and segregated and typically, marriages are made by
arrangement.
Beliefs
and Celebrations
The
Kalash are famous for their festivals and dress code. They for example know how
to let their hair down in style. There is much dancing where the elders chant
legends with drum accompaniment and the women dance around in the open place.
Locally brewed wine is drunk in copious quantities. The festival dates are only
fixed to a certain extent as the people and the dates depend on the harvest.
The
festival of Chilimjusht or Joshi is for spring harvest and last 4-6 days around
mid May and the Uchal festival on 20th August celebrates the pre-harvest with
cheese, corn and wine. Chitirmas in mid December celebrates the winter solstice
and is the most impressive festival, lasting for up to 10 days.
The
kalash worship many gods of Kafiristan like Balomain, the heroic demi-god of
the kalash Balomain’s spirit is said to pass through the valley counting the
people of Kalash and collecting their prayers to return them to Tsiam, the
mythical land of the kalash.
The
Kalash people thank the creator during their festivals. Each festival is meant
to give thanks to the Almighty. The dancing is one way of showing happiness and
thankfulness towards the Creator.
Much
of the dancing take place in large circles around a bonfire and people chant
with mesmerizing repetitions – with just a drum beat accompanying the voices.
The girls wear intricate dresses made of cowry shells, coins and beads with
beautiful hair braiding and headwear. Each heavy headdress weighing several
pounds is presented to a girl by her uncle. The jewellery includes necklaces
made from apricot kernels, a traditional gift during the festivals. Single
women are expected to find themselves a husband during these festivals. Just
before the main festival, seasonal food is offered to the ancestral spirits and
a kotik, light for the ancestors, is lit. After this ritual the food,
considered impure, is offered to the elderly women to be eaten.
Joshi
/Chilimjusht (May 13-16) is the spring festival, in the middle of May lasts for
four days. . The spring festival honors the fairies and also safeguards the
goats and shepherds before they go to the pastures. Before the festival the
women and girls gather from all over the valley and decorate their houses.
Inside the houses local wine and milk products are shared . The women then
sprinkle milk on Goddess “ Jestak “ the protector of their children and home.
The festival begins at Rumbur where the Shaman ( soothsayer ) and tribal chiefs
lead a procession to the “ Malosh altar” , high above Grum, to sacrifice goats
to the Gods . Later the festival moves on to Bumboret and ends up at Birir , a
few days later.
Every religious ceremony is accompanied by dancing and rhythmical chant to a beat of the drum. The women wearing their traditional black robes, ornate cowries shelled head dresses and adorned with coloured necklaces, dance in a circle. Then the men join in : it may be a man and a women or a man in the middle with a women on each side, lovers being free to intermingle. One hand is held round the waist of the partner and the other round the shoulders. Tribal chiefs in colourful dresses narrate stories of bygone days and events.
Facts
I T I N E R A R Y
|
|
Day 1
|
Arrival Islamabad (Hotel).
|
Day 2
|
slamabad/Rawalpindi – Peshawar. Hotel
|
Day 3
|
City tour of Peshawar, includes, Peshawar markets, story tellers
bazaar, Mohabat Khan Mosque, Peshawar Museum, and Chowk Yadgar. Hotel.
|
Day 4
|
Drive to Kalash over Lowari Pass
(3733m, en route stop for photography. Hotel
|
Day 5-8
|
(May13-16)
Well experience of Kalash Spring
Festival and enjoying the Kalash girls’s dance. Hotel
|
Day 9
|
Drive back to Chitral. Hotel
|
Day 10
|
Drive to Hunza, along the Hunza
river, en route stop at Rakaposhi view point and different photographic
points. Hotel
|
Day 11
|
Sightseeing in Hunza. Hotel
|
Day 12
|
Drive back to Gilgi-Besham enroute
KKH. Hotel
|
Day 12
|
Drive to Islamabad. Hotel
|
Day
13
|
Full day at leisure and shopping
in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.
|
Day
14
|
Departure
|
Kalash Autumn Festival
Phoo festival: It is only held in Birir around end of September to celebrate the grape and walnut harvest. Grape being a staple requirement in the Kalash society for making wine are grown on trees in protected sites. The holy tree being the best for such climbers. They are picked through out the valley on a particular day and is an occasion for joy and merry making.. It is also an occasion of the shepherds returning from the high pastures .
Facts
I T I N E R A R Y
| |
Day 1
|
Arrival Islamabad (Hotel).
|
Day 2
|
slamabad/Rawalpindi – Peshawar. Hotel
|
Day 3
|
City tour of Peshawar, includes, Peshawar markets, story tellers bazaar, Mohabat Khan Mosque, Peshawar Museum, and Chowk Yadgar. Hotel.
|
Day 4
|
Drive to Kalash over Lowari Pass (3733m, en route stop for photography. Hotel
|
Day 5-8
|
(September 25-28) Well experience of Kalash Spring Festival and enjoying the Kalash girls’s dance. Hotel
|
Day 9
|
Drive back to Chitral. Hotel
|
Day 10
|
Drive to Hunza, along the Hunza river, en route stop at Rakaposhi view point and different photographic points. Hotel
|
Day 11
|
Sightseeing in Hunza. Hotel
|
Day 12
|
Drive back to Gilgi-Besham enroute KKH. Hotel
|
Day 12
|
Drive to Islamabad. Hotel
|
Day 13
|
Full day at leisure and shopping in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.
|
Day 14
|
Departure
|
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