Shandur Polo Festival appears to be hijacked by NWFP
Shandur Polo Festival at the roof of the world has earned a global recognition for Chitralies and Gilgities over years. The Shandur Festival is a shared Gala of people of Chitral and the people of Ghizar District of Gilgit Baltistan where two giant polo teams encounter annually to test the power of their fist. The festival is held on the eve of the final polo match between Gilgit and Chitral.
To give a reverence to the great martyrds of Ghizar and share the sorrows with their families, the people had demanded the authorities not to hold the festival. ” At this sad juncture, when each day we receive a dead body of a soldier from Ghizar who dies in the ongoing offensive we do not want the world come and dance on over heads(Shandur Pass). It would mean rubbing salt into our wounds. We want it to be postponed”, said a local leader. Since the festival belongs to them, they should have a say in it and their demands should have been respected.
On the other side of the border, Chitral District government and local leaders in a meeting unanimously recommended the government not to hold the festival this year in the mist of the security issues. Chitral District Nazir, Maghfirat Shah has confirmed that the security forces would not be able to give a a fail-safe security to the participants of the Gala. ” We want the continuation of the Gala, thats why we are opposing it” Maghfirat Shah was quoted by the News International.
“I appeal to the people of Chitral, to the Provincial Government and to the Federal Government to postpone Shandur festival for the time being. At least good sense should prevail to take stock of the situation, when our young soldiers are being targeted by rebels every day, when our land is red with blood of our martyrs and our graveyards are green with Pakistani flags on the graves of martyrs, how can we celebrate Jashn-e-Shandur at such a moment” a citizen of Chitral, Mr. Bashir Hussain wrote to Chitral Times.
But who cares, NWFP government has imposed this festival on the innocent people of Chitral and Ghizar District. This is your culture but let’s play with it was a clear message. Against the will of the people, It has been decided to hold the festival on July 7,2009. The festival appears to be hijacked.
