Of Hunza's ancient spring customs and traditions
'Da-Da' is a local festival where children below the age of one are welcomed along with the season of spring. Photo: Dunya News
(Dunya News) – Throughout the world, the arrival of spring season is celebrated with festivals and traditions. In Pakistan’s valley of Hunza, locals welcome spring by celebrating their ancient customs and traditions.
‘Da-Da’ is a local festival where children below the age of one are welcomed along with the season of spring. The ancient tradition includes elders carrying toddlers on their shoulders and showering them with sweets and rice in a bid to offer the young ones blessings and prayers for a healthy life and a bright future.
Da-Da’s festival includes an elderly carrying a toddler on his back. Photo: Screengrab
Explaining the tradition, a local explained that with arrival of spring toddlers are carried on shoulders to welcome them to the new season. Elders of the family also carry young children on their shoulders and pray for their future.
Hunza valley converts into a festive region during spring where tourists are attracted by not just the scenic beauty but also by all the colourful cultural festivals celebrated by the locals.
These ancient traditions and festivals need government support to preserve the local culture and attract more tourists, especially during the season of spring, to the valley.
For more on this, watch a report by Dunya News below.
