Gilgit Baltistan is an amalgamation of natural and eye-catching beauty and we have always known this. But this part of Pakistan is a complete package, whether it is mountains, valleys, lakes, glaciers, or wildlife. But do the people who live here have any celebrations or events? Well, yes, many famous festivals of Gilgit Baltistan are worth experiencing and of great value.
This guide will be all about it, from the Shandur Polo Festival to the Ginani one. So buckle up yourselves, as the journey is about to begin!
Significance of Festivals in Gilgit Baltistan
The Gilgit Baltistan Festivals are worth experiencing, especially for the tourists visiting the said place. This is a way to make society progress and to praise their joy with their mates. The celebration very much smooths ways of social attachment. These festivals cover large numbers of people who associate them with social or the ones who try to raise their activities among native people of the locality. Local area seniors who make models to take up family connections and share stories and experiences are welcome.
Even though Gilgit Baltistan has excellent scenes, fantastic valleys, and special cordiality of its kind and more, it is likewise renowned for its energetic fairs. However, few sorts of territorial, social, and formal celebrations are always praised in the area.
Read Visit Gilgit Baltistan in Winters-A Winter Wonderland
Major Festivals of Gilgit Baltistan
Following are some of the significant and worth-experiencing festivals in the region.
- Shandur Polo Festival
- Nauroz Festival
- Ginani Festival
- Rama Festival
- Gather Festival
- Babusar Polo Festival
- Tekhum Rezi or Spring Festival
- May Fung Festival
- Nasalo Festival
- Winter sports Festival
Shandur Polo Festival
Everyone gathers all around the world just for this overwhelming event that takes place in the world’s highest polo ground. The event is supposed to take place from the 7th to the 9th of July of every year, but dates may depend on the flow of tourists. More thrill to your journey: folk music, folk dance, traditional sports, and camping village are set up on the pass.
You would relate to Victories of the Shandur Polo Festival From 1986 to 2022
Nauroz Festival
One of the famous sports festivals with the gathering of sports including polo, football, volleyball, and hockey in Gilgit. Festivals just aren’t complete without music and dancing. There’s plenty of that too. It is on March 21st of every year which is the first day of the new year in the Persian Calendar (Persian language: Persian Nau means new, Nau Roz means new day). During this three-day celebration, large quantities of food are also made and distributed.
Ginani Festival
It is also called the Chineer festival; it is to mark the summer and the new harvest season. The event is held on 21st June for 4 days. They prepare traditional foods. Just like we get Sawayyian to mark Eid, we make Dirum Patti, a local dish, on this occasion. Folk dances to flute music are also practiced. It’s a colorful, immensely enjoyable time.
Rama Festival
Astore people get very festive at the Rama festival. People from all around the globe visit there to attend the Rama festival which molds the culture and history of the people of Gilgit. It looks after the cultural heritage and history of the people of Astore.
It is a polo festival and teams from Astore Gilgit Baltistan are playing. There is also a cultural show. It is very big, with the regional government involved.
Gather Festival
A celebration is held at the point when the yields, not long after they are prepared for reap, are ready. This is to thank God for his favors in the yielding season, complimenting their tongues, as local people say. While unrecorded music played, the ranchers danced, and everyone else got to share how happy they were with each other through food and salutations.
Also, read Districts of Gilgit Baltistan-Exploration.
Babusar Polo Festival
The Babusar Polo Championship, one of the polo celebrations in the district, is held in August each year at the world’s highest polo arena. It was a helpful experience for guests from all over the country as groups via multiple GB soccer locales participated. This celebration also includes back-and-forth competitions, tent plunging, paragliding, photography and show, jewel shows, handiwork shows, horseback riding, and huge bonfire parties.
Tekhum Rezi or Spring Festival
They call the Spring Festival Bo (Bee Ganik in the native languages). The event happens in March in Yasin Valley and other scenic valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan respectively. This is an annual festival to continue their cultural heritage celebrated by the people of Yasin Valley.
During the festival, locals wear colorful traditional clothing and celebrate cultural activities together. Traditional sports competitions, like horse racing and tug o’ war, and traditional dance performances, especially local dance, are included in the festival.
On occasion, local dishes are cooked, and the old tradition of brandishing lit torches on a near pitch-black night and chanting many slogans of an Area local to you can be spread.
May Fung Festival
The shortest day of the calendar and the top of winter is December 21. On the day, the people of the Balti tribe of Gilgit-Baltistan celebrate May Fung Festival by lighting torches, and lanterns and dancing after dusk.
Baltistan had been occupied by Buddhist practices in the Buddhist era and the festival dates back to those times. Even though that area was completely Islamist the practices of May Fung survived and were continued. Celebrated to remember the Winter and its relation with the Spring season, the May Fung Festival is observed.
Nasalo Festival
The festival is Nasalo and is native to various parts of Gilgit Baltistan, especially Gilgit, Nagar, and Ghizer regions in Pakistan. The festival of the cold winter season is celebrated ordinarily in November to welcome and be ready for the cold season. It’s an important cultural event that celebrates the traditions and customs of the region.
Nasalo is a time when Nasalo is, animals are slaughtered and a variety of meals are made out of their meat. The prayers mark the festival, which is also a prayer for the survival of the family in the harsh winter season. Next, after the prayers, there are dances and conducted cultural song performances.
Read Karakoram Range -All You Need To Know
Winter Sports Festival
No doubt, these winter sports festivals of Gilgit Baltistan are indeed not classical but are picking up with the trend of time. These festivals all started in Hunza, but now these celebrations take place in Ghizer and Gilgit too. These festivals feature different winter sports like ice hockey, skateboarding, and skiing, and various tournaments are held during the festivals.
Impact of Festivals on Gilgit Baltistan
Cultural Importance
- Preserving Traditions
Festivals maintain and pass on the cultural heritage to the next generation. It portrays traditional music, dances, crafts, and culture for their continuity.
- Community Identity
Festivals generate community cohesiveness. Festivals allow people to come together and share things that enhance social relationships.
Economic Importance
- Boosting Tourism
Festivals attract not only national but also international tourists and bring handsome resources to the locals.
- Income Generation
They provide a means for local artisans, musicians, and performers to present themselves and their work for sale.
Social Effects
- Community Involvement
Festivals create an atmosphere of community involvement and participation. They mobilize people to come forward and celebrate en masse the richness of their culture.
- Social Coherence
Festivals may overcome social gaps and help knit communities together in harmony. They offer the opportunity to come together and understand different groups within societies.
Read Travel Guide to Chilas, Gilgit | Best Places to Visit Chilas
Challenges and Trends to Festival Tourism
Festival Expansion
Thus, Gilgit Baltistan can lure a larger number of domestic and international visitors by including events like the Shigar, Hunza, and Skardu festivals on a larger scale and purview. Also, some new festivals, which may emphasize certain cultural features or certain areas of the region, may add more variety to the tourism products.
Improving the Experience of the Visitors
This will come with better tourist facilities, communication systems, and local amenities. Through building structures and making travel a comfortable and joyous trip, Gilgit Baltistan can get multiple tours and recommendations from travelers.
Promoting Festivals
Though festivals are a big puller, there are scenic beauty and other adventure-related points of attraction that can be a hit around the year. To overcome seasonality crises in tourism, Gilgit Baltistan needs to diversify its tourism product portfolio and encourage tourism during the low tourism season.
Collaborating with local communities
Festivals should be more grounded and have volunteers from the community in their course. Instead of depending on the flow of outsiders, the government must strengthen the local people and ensure their financial returns for the sustainable and real tourism of Gilgit Baltistan.
Read Role of Winter Sports in Gilgit Baltistan -Pakistan Tourism
Final Thoughts
Festivals of Gilgit Baltistan comprise ethnological heritage, virgin natural beauty, and nerve-tingling experiences. Preserving their cultural heritage, encouraging tourism, and community involvement are the important ways through which festivals have contributed toward the development process in Gilgit Baltistan. More attention towards sustainable tourism, investment in infrastructure, and community involvement will go a long way in securing the future of festival tourism within this growing region.
Do not forget to share what part of the above discussion you liked the most. Your opinion does matter!
FAQs Regarding Festivals of Gilgit Baltistan
What is the importance of festivals in Gilgit Baltistan?
Festivals in Gilgit Baltistan play an utmost crucial role in preserving cultural heritage, which boosts tourism and allows community engagement to take place.
What are the major festivals celebrated in Gilgit Baltistan?
The major festivals celebrated here are known as the Shandur Polo Festival, Nauroz Festival, Ginani Festival, Rama Festival, and Gather Festival.
How do the festivals make a difference to the local economy?
Festivals attract both inland and international tourists, which improves local businesses and creates jobs while earning an income for artisans as well as performers.
What are the issues and opportunities concerning festival tourism in Gilgit Baltistan?
Overall, these involve sustainable tourism, conservation of the environment, and equitable distribution of benefits. Opportunities: inclusive festival development, improving the visitor experience, marketing Gilgit Baltistan as a year-round destination, and cooperation with locals.
What does the future hold for Gilgit Baltistan festival tourism?
The future of festival tourism in Gilgit Baltistan is promising. Strategic planning and investment could ensure its development and growth in the coming years.
