Pathak Festival Celebrated in Yadgha-Speaking Region of Lower Chitral for Third Consecutive Year

Lower Chitral witnessed a celebration of cultural heritage during the first week of February 2026, as the Pathak Festival was organized for the third consecutive year with the support of the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI). The festival, held in the Yadgha-speaking region, honored the spiritual legacy of Pir Nasir Khusro, a revered Sufi saint whose contributions continue to inspire cultural and spiritual life in the valley.

The event was hosted by FLI’s local partner, the Yadgha Development Network (YDN), and brought together scores of Yadgha-speaking community members—elders, youth, and women from diverse walks of life. The festival served as a cultural gala, showcasing the richness of Yadgha traditions through poetry recitals, musical performances, and speeches delivered in the Yadgha language.

Participants expressed heartfelt gratitude to FLI for its continued support in preserving and promoting their endangered language. Yadgha, spoken in southern Chitral, is recognized as one of the highly endangered languages of the region. Through sustained interventions—including documentation, training, and cultural events—FLI has been working to safeguard this linguistic heritage. Supporting the Pathak Festival is one of the key initiatives in this broader effort.

The festival not only celebrated the spiritual and cultural legacy of Pir Nasir Khusro but also reaffirmed the community’s commitment to keeping the Yadgha language alive for future generations.