Chilmar Abad wins Donkey Polo title at Broghil Festival 2019
The district government of Chitral arranged the three-day Broghil festival which concluded successfully with much funfair and traditional sports activities at the Broghil National Park in Upper Chitral district.
The district government of Chitral arranged the three-day Broghil Festival 2019, which concluded successfully with much funfair and traditional sports activities at the Broghil National Park in Upper Chitral district.
Various activities, including horse, yak and donkey polo, cricket, football, buzkashi, marathon race, tug-of-war, wrestling, music and other traditional games were part of the festival which was organised by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) and the Upper Chitral district administration.
Deputy Commissioner Chitral Shah Masood was the chief guest while District President PTI Abdul Latif, Sports Officer Farooq Azam, Education Officer Mehmood Ghaznavi, Assistant Commissioner Chitral and representatives of different NGOs, local, national and foreign tourists were also present during festival. The matches were also witnessed by large number of area people.
The donkey polo is most popular game of the area and are being played by centuries ago. It was played by 12 players and donkey rider try to push the ball into opponent’s goal made up of wooden sticks. The final match was won by Chilmar Abad by defeating Ghari team.
The TCKP Managing Director, Junaid Khan, had earlier directed the officials concerned to make proper arrangements for the event as a large number of tourists were expected to come to the far-off area of Chitral to enjoy the festival.
“A tent village had been established to facilitate the tourists,” the official said, adding that there were opportunities for tourists to participate in the thrilling adventure tourism activities in the remote scenic spot.
The spectators enjoyed the yak polo, horse polo and other games which were played at an altitude of 13,600 feet above the sea level.
Broghil is the home of Chiantar glacier surrounded by many other glaciers, which feed the Chitral River while the Kurambar Lake is said to be biologically active lake supporting a wide range of diversity.
The Broghil valley, bordering the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan, is situated about 250km from Chitral city. Its extended glaciers, incredible wildlife, scattered wetlands, rich wilderness, green meadows and mighty mountains are the main tourism potential of the area.
Established in 2010, the Broghil National Park is a treasure of wild indigenous and migratory fauna especially of Pamirian and Siberian bird species.
