The Wakhi Festival Kitdhit: The Departure of Winter Season.

 Kitdhit is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal every year in the lower part of Gojal, Hunza, typically in the first week of February. In contrast, the upper part of Gojal-Hunza celebrates the festival after the conclusion of winter, marking the end of the cold season. As spring awakens from its winter slumber, the inhabitants of Gojal-Upper Hunza rejoice at the arrival of the warmer season.

The festival of Kitdhit, also known as Kouth Zith, marks the beginning of spring and is a significant event in the Wakhi calendar. The name Kitdhit literally means "to clean up the smoke from their ceilings," reflecting the practice of cleaning traditional Wakhi houses after the long winter months.

During the festival, local residents engage in various activities, including cleaning their traditional houses, which have accumulated smoke and dust on their ceilings. Adult villagers collect a special herb, known as "Poupshing" in Wakhi, used to clean the ceilings and dispose of winter remains. They also utilize local grass brooms, made from green and gray grass, to sweep away the dust of the cold season.

local grass broom(Poupshing)

The traditional Wakhi houses are adorned with wheat flour, and the wooden beams and pillars are decorated with flowers, which hold significant symbolic value in Wakhi culture. Each family member is sprinkled with flour on their shoulders by the family elders, an auspicious gesture believed to bring good health, longevity, and prosperity.

The festival is also marked by the sharing of traditional dishes, such as Shulbuth (a mixture of water, flour, meat, and butter or apricot oil), Khista (a local bread mixed with milk and apricot oil or fresh butter), and Samen Kyech (the Wakhi ceremonial bread). These dishes are shared with family elders, relatives, and friends, showcasing the spirit of generosity and brotherhood as the community prepares for the upcoming farming season.

Traditional dish (Shulbuth)

Traditional dish (Khista)

The celebration continues at the sacred premises of the Jamatkhana, where villagers gather to share more traditional dishes contributed by each household. This gathering culminates in special prayers, invoking divine blessings for the upcoming year, and seeking prosperity through bountiful harvests, sufficient water resources, peace, safety, unity, and stability of the country.

Community gathering 

The festival also features traditional games, such as Taksuri (in Wakhi) or Guli Danda (in Urdu), which is enthusiastically played by young boys, with active participation and cheering from the elderly. Meanwhile, young girls and women display their skills through Puth, a traditional game involving a woolen ball (now often replaced by a tennis ball).

In conclusion, Kitdhit is a vibrant and meaningful festival that embodies the spirit of resilient communities. By celebrating the arrival of spring, the festival reinforces social bonds, promotes cultural heritage, and inspires hope for a brighter future.