ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (APP): Three day famous Shandoor polo
festival rescheduled due to Eidul Fitr and then monsoons the event delayed till July end, now it will be held on July 29 in Chitral.
The official of Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) told APP that the schedule for the festival has finalized in a meeting attended by Secretary
Gilgit Baltistan, General Manager Administration and Properties (TCKP) Sajjad Hameed,
General Manager Finance TCKP Safeer Ahmed, DC Ghizer, DC Chitral Osman Wariach and President Polo Association G B.
The festival regularly held each year from July 7 to 9th but
this year firstly due to Eid ul Fitr and then monsoons the event was delayed till July end.
According to an official of TCKP, now the Shandoor Polo
Festival will be held from July 29 to 31.
Shandoor Polo Festival is one of the big festivals in
Pakistan.
The polo which is played between the polo teams of Gilgit
Baltistan and Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is experienced as a free style polo match.
Passion for Polo will be the highest on the world’s highest
Polo ground. Every year, Shandur invites visitors to experience a traditional polo tournament between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit.
The festival also includes Folk music, Folk dance, traditional
sports.
Polo was introduced in South Asia, by the Muslim conquerors in the 13th century. English word ‘Polo” is in fact a Balti word meaning, “ball”.
In ancient times, there was no limit to the number of players
and no time limit. Which team scored nine goals first, became the winner.
Today, there are six players to each side, but this is by no
means a rule in local polo games. The game lasts for one hour with a ten minute break.
Chitral, Gilgit and Skardu have always played the game of polo closest to its original form.
