Peshawar’s first-ever horse and cattle show kicks off
PESHAWAR: The first and biggest three-day cultural festival in the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was officially launched on Friday at Colonel Sher Khan Stadium in Peshawar. The event, taking place from November 8 to November 10, aims to celebrate the region’s rich cultural heritage and traditional sports.
It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who led a colorful ceremony organized by the Sports Department.
The opening ceremony was attended by Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Umar Ahmad Bukhari, Provincial Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Fakhr Jahan, members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, and other senior government officials, as well as athletes and cultural sports enthusiasts from across the province.
The festival kicked off with an exciting Horse and Cattle Show, including Free Fall Jump and Air Gliding Show. The crowd witnessed the Chief Minister take a salute during the kettle and horse parade. The event also featured regional music and dance performances by the Frontier Corps North bands, alongside camel races, dances, and a vintage car show. A cultural highlight included the release of 1,000 pigeons into the air, symbolizing peace and unity.
Over the course of three days, traditional sports like Kabaddi, Dangal (wrestling), camel races, and dog races, along with other cultural competitions, are being held. The festival aims to highlight the province’s traditional identity, while fostering a message of peace and prosperity for Peshawar and KP as a whole.
Speaking at the ceremony, Provincial Sports Minister Syed Fakhr Jahan emphasized the government’s efforts to revive traditional sports and fairs as a means of cultural revival and social cohesion. He noted the government’s commitment to providing infrastructure and facilities for sports development, which remains a priority under the leadership of the Chief Minister.
The festival has also been hailed as a means to foster peace and provide entertainment for the people of Peshawar, with a broader message of unity and peaceful coexistence.
