Sights of Sounds of Pakistan: Chitral Part-4

Sights of Sounds of Pakistan: Chitral Part-4

Even if someone does not have a liking for Polo, the excitement of the players, the galloping horses and the local crowd would make one yell and clap as a team approaches the goal post of its opponents.

One must not miss this festival if one happens to be visiting Chitral in July – rather one should plan the visit to Chitral keeping in view this rarity. The history of this annual polo tournament at the Shandur Top dates back to 1936 when a British Political
Agent, Major Cobb organized the first polo tournament here.

Major Cobb was fond of playing polo under full moon and he developed a polo ground near Shandur that was named after him and is still known as ‘Major Cobb Moony Polo Ground’. Polo fans gather at Shandur from all over the world to participate in the spectacular
polo events during this tournament.

Historical chronicles reveal that in 2nd A.D Chitral was under the rule of a Buddhist ruler Jai Paul, then the middle period is perceived to be ruled by
Kalash rulers, Rajawai, Bazik and Bula singh.

However, the Kalash suffered heavy casualties in a  series of skirmishes with the troops of Shah Nadir Rais, the ruler of Rais Dynasty and finally concentrated in the Romboor, Bamborate, Birir and Jinjirit (present Kalash valleys).

Then the Adamzadas came to throne and later on it is known as Katoor Dynasty and still they are visible in shape of Royal family of Chitral. Chitral has been a
princely state whose rulers decided to join Pakistan upon independence in 1947. The ruling family of Chitral was the Katur dynasty, founded by Shah Katur (1585-1630). 

During the reign of Mehtar Aman-ul-Mulk, known as Lot (Great) Mehtar (Mehtar is a Turkish word meaning royal, king,elder), the dynasty’s sway extended from Asmar in the Kunar Valley of Afghanistan to Punyal in the Gilgit Valley. Tribes in Upper Swat, Dir
Kohistan and Kafiristan (present day Nuristan, not to be confused with the Kalasha valleys which have always been an integral part of Chitral) paid tribute to the Mehtar of Chitral.

The ruler’s title, Mehtar, is unique; his male descendants were styled Mehtarjao, equally rare, until the higher (Persian) royal style Shahzada, originally reserved for the Crown Prince (Tsik mehtar, again unique, as Heir Persumptive, becoming Wali-Akht
Sahib when heir Apparent), was extended to all princes of the Mehtar’s blood since the rulers at that point.

To be continued…

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=23134

Posted by Naveed A Bari on May 23 2012. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry