Kalash Festival is one the most unique and taboo for many in Pakistan and elsewhere on earth. Kalash tribe celebrates many festivals around the year. Chilam Joshi is also known as spring festival. The Kalash people celebrate this four day festival across all three Kalash valleys of Rumbur, Bumburet and Birir. A large number of domestic and foreign tourists attend the Chilam Joshi festival every year. The three main festivals are Chilam Joshi (spring festival), Choimus (winter festival) and Uchal (summer festival). All three are explained below:
Kalash Festival – Chilam Joshi (Spring)
Chilam Joshi Festival is one the most vital kalash festivals. Chilam Joshi is also known as Kalash spring festival. The Kalash people celebrate this four day festival across all three Kalash valleys of Rumbur, Bumburet and Birir. A large number of domestic and foreign tourists attend the Chilam Joshi festival every year.
The main objective behind the Chilam Joshi is that Kalasha men and women can find themselves a spouse to get married. The women wear traditional attire with lively colors and hair dresses have patterns of flowers on it. They wear beaded necklaces which compliments their dresses and head gears.
Uchal (Summer)
Uchal, also known as Utchal is a summer festival. Kalasha people during this festival pay homage to God by celebrating the harvest and also thanking their God for blessing them with good food and crops. Corn, buttermilk and cheese are prepared to celebrate the festival.
Men wear traditional Shalwar Kameez with a waistcoat made of wool. They dance together and sing in a circle on drum beats. Every year this festival brings smile to the bachelors and spinsters of Kalash Valley tribes as it gives them an opportunity to choose their life partners and announce their names on the last day of the festival.
Trip Itinerary:
| Day 01 | Arrival in Islamabad. Afternoon City Tour. |
| Day 02 | Fly or Drive for Chitral. |
| Day 03 | Drive to Bumburet, Kalash valley. 2 hours drive. |
| Day 04 | Well experience of kalash spring festival and Enjoy Kalash girls’ dance and other activities during the Event. |
| Day 05 | Drive back to Chitral. Afternoon visit to Tooshi for Wildlife watching and Photography. |
| Day 06 | Fly to Islamabad. Afternoon Islamabad City tour. |
| Day 07 | Transfer to Airport for onward destination. |