Young Chitralis learn folk dance and music

By Gul Hamaad Farooqi

Chitral, September 25: Training sessions for young artists were held in Chitral to revive, protect and promote age-old traditions of music and dance among  the Kho tribe of Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The activity was undertaken by Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism (CAMAT) with funding from USAID-SGAFP and implemented by  an NGO.

Highlights of the program included display of art and training by senior artists in traditional dance and songs ‘Pasthok’, ‘Nohthik’, ‘Nandooshi’ and ‘Lukzhor’ for young artists of 4 villages—Harchin, Chuinj, Chapali and Khozh—of district Chitral were conducted

In separate programs of 5 hours sessions, 4 senior artists trained 48 youngsters willing to perform the traditional dances in future. More than 400 people witnessed the training sessions and shows at different places.

Speaking on the occasion CAMAT’s senior management stressed the need to impart the knowledge and skill of old traditions in music and dance to younger generation.

Master artists Nigahban Shah, Muhammad Razi Khan, Jabar Khan and Zargar Khan highlighted various steps of the traditional dances and songs.

They resolved to continue training younger generation in traditional arts and crafts so that the legacy of their forbears is not lost in the modern technological age.