The second Pamir Festival was recently celebrated in Sarhad-e-Brughill, Upper Wakhan valley, on the 12th and 13th of August. The festival was organised by the people of the Wakhan with the assistance of the Wakhan Tourism Office, based in Ishkashim, Badakhshan. It provided an opportunity for the people of this little known area to gather and celebrate their culture and to welcome tourists and other visitors, interested in finding out more about the region. The Wakhan Tourism Office was established by the Aga Khan Foundation to develop appropriate tourism in the Wakhan. It has two main objectives — to bring a much needed new source of income so that local people don’t have to live in poverty; and to try to ensure that local people remain in control of tourism and other development as the region inevitably opens up to the world. The Office has helped local people to set up simple guesthouses and given them training in basic tourism services. It has also trained a number of mountain and tour guides.
During the festival Buzkashi (Buzkashi is the great equestrian sport of Central Asia and Afghanistan – a sort of polo played with the headless carcase of a goat or calf.) and polo matches were played. Folk songs were sung and dances performed by artists belonging to Wakhan, Tajikistan and Pakistan. A Sufi night with music and bonfires had also been planned. Handicrafts were also available at stalls for the willinig buyers.
more information can be obtained by visiting www.wakhan.org
Meharban karim
August 21, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Indeed it is a great activates from wakhan Pameer Explore Pakistan tourism Congratulations to Wakhan Tourism and AKFA for the Festivals success
We believe such kind of activities will bring positive Changes to youth and more then that it gives a massage of peace to the world.
we belive Mr. Mehboob will continue his contribution to the development of Wakhi people in Wakhan Afganistan.
we hope and belive that one day the horse will kiss the sky and the voice of Dawwon’s rubab will be a message of peace to the whole world.
with best regards
Meharban Karim
Explore Pakistan Tourism
http://www.explorepak.com
Asghar Khan
August 21, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Dear Mehboob Aziz,
Congratulation to you and your team on organizing the second Pamir festival
Best of luck
Asghar Khan
S. Jalal ud din Shah
August 21, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Dear Mahboob
congrats over oraganizing this event….I got the success stories…from colleagues partcipated the event
Jalal
Musofer
August 22, 2008 at 4:07 am
AMBARI POMER
Serkuy i bland feryod kertem
Ali Šer Xudo tow yod kerteme
Sedoy I pыrsuz zыn rex̌ki Badaxṣ̌on
Lali Badaxšon der xoki windeme
Hey bulbuli reyhon et ambari pomer
Lali Badaxšon et ambari pomir
Fasli tobiston et ambari pomir
Zami zamiston et ambari pomir
Agr ki δegdeṣ̌ wost qarib waxt kыyen
Mыburak eṣ̌ carn sepreg ya royen
Qobil ya tin an rušroyi yow yexk
Tuwet dыṣ̌ta a cem peywande boghn
Hey bulbuli reyhon et ambari pomer
Lali Badaxšon et ambari pomir
Fasli tobiston et ambari pomir
Zami zamiston et ambari pomir
Saylem kert rexdim da xыšwaxti ghar
Sepreg ambar em wind da kыwe sar
Ti voli qeymat madыr et marjon
Dardyo x̌ы išq ep cart re wun tar
Hey bulbuli reyhon et ambari pomer
Lali Badaxšon et ambari pomir
Fasli tobiston et ambari pomir
Zami zamiston et ambari pomir
Olam Jon Daryo
……………………………………………….
Congratulation to Mehboob and his hard working team for such great itiatives to promote tourism in the region for thier economic development. Dawood a nice guy to see with rubob….
Ali Rehmat Musofer
Timor Leste
Haider Karim
August 22, 2008 at 8:15 am
Good show my friend.
lal-e-badkhshan amber-e- pamir
Cheers … HK
rahim
August 22, 2008 at 10:04 am
Great job done LUPYOR….. many many congratulations to you and to your team for this outstanding effort for the promotion of tourism and culture of Wakhan area……..
Rahim
Almaty Kazakhstan
Darjat
August 22, 2008 at 10:55 am
Dear Mehboob Aziz,
I guess this time you had a bit less work load/ pressure in organizing the event as compared to the first one! My appriciation to your team the community and yourself.
I undestand series of such events will promote tourism flow in the valley- contribute family incomes and it will also enhance local capacity to manage such events in the future whic is most needed.
My best wishes and regards to stakeholders of the event.
Darjat
Didar Karim Bari
August 22, 2008 at 10:59 am
Dear Mehboob!
well done mormor great achivment i am very happy to see your activities for xik people,s that,s wonderfull job…..
your mormor
DK Islamabad
Mohammadullah Doulatpour Alberta Canada
August 22, 2008 at 11:06 am
Dear Mohboob Aziz
Congratution to you all your Great team in the second festival of Pamir. its excelent organizing and such of kind ativates wish you best of luck.
all the best
Mohammad ullah Doulatpour
Calgary Albeta Canada
Rahmat Karim
August 22, 2008 at 11:17 am
Well done Mahboob, great work, keep it up.
I.m proud of you
majeed ullah baig
August 22, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Congergulation to you Sir Mehmoob Aziz for arranging the second pamir festivals.
Keep on struggling to Arrange such activities in wakhan, we will seek from their cultures and tradition.and they will seek from us.
it is indeed a great achivement for you to work with the wakhan khik,s but we khik,s and the wakhan khik,s are unaware of each others,although our language are same
we all pray for your success in this great work
Majeed ullah baig
KIU Gilgit
Habibullah Dawlat
August 24, 2008 at 10:33 am
Dear Mehboob Aziz,
Congratulation to you and all our team which were cooperated in the Second Festival of Pamir.
Best regards,
Habibullah Dawlat
Ishkashim, Badakhshan
Edi Mohammad
August 24, 2008 at 11:54 am
Dear Mehboob Aziz,
Etched wonderfully by time and still a field with life’s silver spark growing young gracefully.
But nothing ever really happens here. I would really love to live honorable in this imagination and wonder-land.
best regards,
Edi Mohammad Sroush.
Ishkashim, Badakhshan.
Sher Karim
August 24, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I was so pleased and so deeply touched with the news that the second Pamir festival was held successfully. I hope and pray that our brothers on that side of the boarder are slowely but steadily gaining momentum to rise and create opportunities for themselves by organizing such colourful events.
The hard work done by AKF in the area is commendable. I congratulate dzaqyor Mehboob and his team for such a successfull event.
Sher Karim
Rawalpindi
Sultan Ahmed
August 24, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Great work Mehboo Bhai. Congratulaitons. It was really very nice to learn about the various colors of Wakhan. The people of Wakhan are veteran horse riders as obvious in the picture. I would be interested to know more about the artisits from Pakistan.
Best,
Sultan Ahmed
Islamabad
habiba
August 25, 2008 at 5:57 pm
keep it up big brother!my prayers with u.
Aslam Ghalib
August 25, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Many many congratulations to Mehbub Aziz Bhai for being proactive in promoting the remote area.
Indeed the beautiful colors being exposed to the entire world will help the poor men to enrich their cultural identity more and more and will ultimately pave a way towards many developmental activities.
Aslam Ghalib
Bio-Rad Laboratories Limited
Shaista Nazir
August 26, 2008 at 8:42 am
Bingo !
thats gr8………… Hats OFF to you. INDEED its ur SUCCESS in bringing this CHANGE. God bless YOU
salman
August 26, 2008 at 10:51 am
Nice to know and learn about Wakhan festivel…. Indeed it is Mehboob Bhai’s efforts making it possible in such remote areas
Asif Soroush
September 15, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Dear Mehboob,
Congratulations, really great job man, i really appreciate your patience towards this challenging performance, indeed you gave a new colour for Wakhan to the world of media.
Best of luck
Asif Soroush
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Pamir Silk Tour Co
April 4, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Dear friends,
I’m tour operator from Tajik Pamirs. I’m really interesting in Wakhan Festival. Many tourist want to participate on this.
Can you tell me pleas, when will start a new festival in Sarhad-e Burughel.
Warm regards,
Shagarf