F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: The Kalash community of Chiltral district has decided to celebrate its annual Chilam Joshi festival this year with simplicity due to prevailing pandemic of cornovirus.
According to a press statement issued here by Tourism Department, the decision has been taken during a meeting between elders of Kalash community and Deputy Commissioner of Lower Chitral District.
In the meeting it was also decided that no outsider will be allowed to visit Chitral for participation in the festival.
It was also decided that Kalash community will only perform its religious rituals during the festival by following corona prevention SOPs.
It merits a mention here that Chilam Joshi is a four day festival being celebrated in the mid of May to celebrate beginning of summer season and for giving a message of peace to the world community.
Due to disruption of annual Kalash festival, the hotel industry in Chitral is also facing sever financial slump.
There are around 40 hotels in Kalash valley whose earning and profit totally depends on extending hospitality to visitors. Due to prevailing pandemic of COVID-19 no visitor is allowed to visit the valley because of travel ban inflicting serious financial losses on hotel industry besides hundred of people associated with it.
