UPPER DIR: A three-day Kumrat summer sports and cultural festival concluded here the other day with a colourful ceremony and spectacular fireworks.

Deputy commissioner Mohammad Usman Mehsud, district nazim Sahibzada Faseehullah, MPA Mohammad Ali Kohistani, Kalkot tehsil nazim Malak Tajbar Khan, elders and large number of spectators, including tourists, attended the concluding ceremony.

Matches of various games, including cricket, volleyball, tagof-war, kabaddi, horse race and a popular traditional game `Sakhay` were played in the sports competition.

The spectators particularly enjoyed the Sakhay game, which is played with one foot as the other is tied with a hand in the air.

Only strong people can play it.

`The game of Sakhay is really good to watch as other games are common all over Pakistan,` Ijaz Awan, who came from Sialkot,said. He said it was his desire to play Sakhay, but he was strong enough to play it.

Another tourist, Zain Abbasi, from Rawalpindi said it was a good initiative of the district government to organise such an event, adding tourists enjoyed both the festival and the beauty of the Kumrat valley. Mohammad Abdullah said he came from Islamabad along with his family to enjoy the serene environs in Kumrat valley, having natural forests crisscrossed by a river and green meadows.

MPA Ali said people of the entire Kohistan valley were hospitable, adding Kumrat valley was the most beautiful place to visit.

He said that people could visit the tourist attraction without any fear. District nazim Faseehullah said the event was planed during the Eid holidays to attract as many people as possible.

DC Mehsud said the aim of the event was to promote Kumrat valley as a tourist spot.

At the end, trophies and cash prizes were distributed among the winner and runner-up teams.