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GILGIT: The winter sports festival, with colourful performances by local athletes and artists, concluded in Gulkin village of Hunza.

The venue of the event was Attabad lake, however, later it was shifted to Gulkin village in Gojal. The event attracted local people and tourists amid freezing temperature. The event was organised by GB Tourism Department to promote winter tourism in the region and for revival of indigenous games. Iqbal Hussain, director of GB Tourism Department told Dawn that the concept of arranging the seven-day event was derived from the snow leopard.

The animal remains blind for the first seven days after it is born and then after the seventh day, it is able to see things besides getting more energy to be able to search for food.

“GB is an ecologically sensitive region and through this event, we tried to sensitise people about food chain and climate change threats,” Mr Hussain said, adding that winter in GB is a prolonged season and such events attract tourists. He said they are trying to promote winter tourism in GB as it had potential.

In the event, 11 teams of ice hockey from 10 districts including Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Nagar,, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, Shigar, Kharmang, Ghanche participated in the event.

The final match was played between teams from Hunza and Ghizer, won by Hunza. Competitions of ice skating, ice curling, ice racing were also held in the event.

Local game competitions also were part of the event. Besides a cultural musical concert, traditional food stalls were part of the event. Concluding ceremony of the event was held on Thursday evening.

GB’s senior minister Ubaidulllah Baig, GB Minister for Information Fataullah Khan, GB Tourism Department officials, people from across GB, athletes, artists and locals participated.

Local artists performed traditional performances whereas people, athletes wearing traditional dresses danced on traditional music while local singers sang. Fireworks around ice and snow added to the beauty of the event in evening.

According to the organisers, it was the first time that such a mega event in winter was organised. Winter events were organised in all districts of the region from Jan 1 this year.

After competitions at the districts level, teams were selected for the seven-day event. The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme has provided technical and financial support to the events.

GB ministers Ubaidulllah Baig and Fataullah Khan distributed prizes and certificates to the players and organisers. Canadian High Commissioner Leslie Scanlon and her team members spent a week in GB during the competitions and trained local athletes in ice hockey, ice football, ice skating.

Participation of both men and women during harsh and freezing temperature was much appreciated. Local entrepreneurs were economically benefitted from the event.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2023