Wakhi Cultural Festival inaugrated

by Najeeb Ullah Naveed

Islamabad, December 9: The Wakhi cultural festival began today at Cultural Heritage Museum of Lok Virsa, Islamabad. The event is being organized by Gojal Educational and Cultural Association (GECA) with the support of Lok Virsa and Norweign Embassy and is to continue for five days till 13 Dec.

The proceedings for the day stared with recitation of Quran by Qari Shuja. Chief guest of the opening day was presented with traditional Wakhi cap and Choogha by a wakhi elder from Ishkoman and Ejaz Karim former chairman of GECA.

The chief guest, Terje Thodesen, Counsellor/head of the development section of Norwegian Embassy, and Executive Director Lok Virsa Khalid Javaid, cut a ribbon to formally inugrate the event . This was followed by traditional welcome song Sho muborakbod sung by eminent Wakhi singer Fazal Rehman shirin Sudo and Wakhi elders shambi Kahn and Mehman Khan.

The chief guest in his speech lauded efforts of GECA and showed immense interest in Wakhi culture. He also visited many stalls including traditional Wakhi dishes. He was briefed about different stalls by GECA chairman Farman Ali and director of lok virsa.

The director of lok virsa in his address urged the participants to preserve their cultural and social values, Wakhi language, customs and folklore and promote unity, inter-communal harmony and enlightenment in society.

Earlier the GECA chairman welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of culture and the challenges being faced by the Wakhi community and stressed the need for efforts to preserve the language which is facing extinction as mentioned in the UNESC0’s red book. He thanked Norwegian embassy and lok virsa for their support to make this festival a success.

A group of Wakhi elders including eminent poet Asmat ullah Musfiq,wali Baig, Awal Baig and Shambi Khan danced in traditional Wakhi style, fascinating the

people with the unique and soothing rhythm and surreal body movements .

The famous folk song from Wakhan “Bulbulik” was sung by Ali ahmed Shani and Fazal Reman shirin Sudo and they were assisted by Rehmat Karim and Hyder Murad. Another unique item presented in the day was traditional Sword dance performed by Shambi Kahn and Niamat Karim. Songs were also sung by singers including Rehmat Karim, DW Baig, Tawakal Ali, Ali Ahmed shani, Riaz Sahar, Amanullah Nachiz, Rehbar Kahn, Shirin Sado and Hyder Murad among many others.Gojali Wakhi people residing in the twin cities danced to the tunes of Dhol, rabab ,Daf ,pipe and damal. The band trio from hunza helped sooth the occasion with musical tunes of dudang surunai and damal.

Many stalls including trational Wakhi dishes, such as Molida, Buth, Chilpindok, Moch and Shulbut, different products made from seabuk thorn, Wakhi handi crafts, traditional Wakhi carpet, “Plos”, were also staged.

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