Ayubia Festival

Galiyat Snow Festival 2024 organized by the Galiyat Development Authority, Abbottabad –

Galiyat Snow Festival 2024, organized by the Galiyat Development Authority, kicked off today at Church Park Nathiagali. Director General GDA Mr. Shahrukh Ali, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the snow festival, which includes fun activities such as snow tubing, snow archery, tug of war, zipline, bungee jumping, and much more. Here are some glimpses of Day 1 of the Galiyat Snow Festival 2024.

The Galiyat Snow Festival is an annual event organized by the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) in the Galiyat region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This festival aims to promote tourism in the area, particularly during the winter season in heavy snowfall in Galiyat.

The festival typically features a variety of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy. These may include:

1. Snow sports: Participants can engage in activities such as skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snow tubing.

2. Cultural performances: The festival often showcases traditional music, dance, and other cultural performances from the region.

3. Food stalls: Local vendors and restaurants set up stalls offering a variety of traditional and regional cuisine for visitors to sample.

4. Arts and crafts: Local artisans may display and sell their handmade crafts, including woodwork, embroidery, and souvenirs.

5. Competitions and games: Various competitions and games may be organized for visitors of all ages, adding to the festive atmosphere.

6. Entertainment: Live music concerts, magic shows, and other entertainment activities are often part of the festival lineup.

The Galiyat Snow Festival provides an opportunity for both locals and tourists to come together and celebrate the beauty and charm of the Galiyat region during the winter season. It also serves as a platform to highlight the cultural heritage and natural attractions of the area, contributing to its promotion as a year-round tourist destination.

 

 

 

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Sports and Culture Aqil Shah was the chief guest at closing ceremony, which was titled ‘Pop Night.’ where the artists displayed their traditional folk music and dances in pavilions of their provinces.

The major performing singers at the event included Shazia Khushk, Faakhir, Humera Arshad, Roxen the Band, Akhtar Chanaal, Gulzar Alam, Ahmad Gul, Nadeem Abbas Lonewala, Rukhsana Kashmiri, Safdar Hussain, Mumtaz Ali, Rehmat Bano, Pervez, Amanat Ali, Rabi Pirzada, Afshan Zebi, Khalid Malik, Aamir Zeb, Hamad Beg, Rizwana Khan, Mudassar Zaman, Sami, Karan Khan, Janas Khan and Ismail Junaid, who entertained the audience with their music.

Khattak and Wazir Attan dances of K-P, Jhoomer and Tharri dances of Sindh, Multani and Cholistani dance of Punjab, Leva dance of Balochistan and local dances of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were also performed during the three-day festival. “I am really enjoying the live performances by famous artists and it is a truly memorable occasion,” said Afshan, a newlywed woman who had come to Ayubia.

Zubaida, another tourist from Lahore, also expressed similar views. However, she added that the handicrafts on display were expensive compared to the market.

The provincial minister said the festival was a great success and the ANP led government had succeeded in defeating terrorism.

He suggested that such programmes be organised in other parts of the province as well, especially those areas which had been ravaged by militancy.

He appreciated the performers and assured the audience that the event would be held annually and he would extend all his support for this purpose.