Hunza Cultural Forum (HCF), officially registered as Hunza Cultural & Development Forum, is joining hands with Gojal Educational and Cultural Association (GECA) to bring the annual Hunza Cultural Festival 2018.

The signature 2-day long festival will be held on 22 and 23 December 2018 at Ibex Club Islamabad located within the premises of Rawal Lake View Park on Murree Road in Islamabad.

Shahid Akhtar Qalandar and Rabab player Mujeeb practicing backstage before the performance.

This would be the second time Hunza Cultural Forum is collaborating with Gojal Educational and Cultural Association to organize the mega event.

Hunza Cultural Festival has been regularly organized for the diaspora of the greater Hunza region based in the twin cities since 2008. The event is led by a team of young volunteers under the guidance of the co-founding members of both HCF and GECA.

Volunteers and artists pose at the conclusion of Hunza Cultural Festival 2017,

Hunza Cultural Festival 2018 will give an opportunity to the Hunzokutz (people of Hunza) to interact with each other, enjoy folk dances, listen to live Burushaski, Shina and Wakhi music and devour the traditional food of Hunza during the 2-day long event.

Late Imtiaz Karim performing at Hunza Cultural Festival in 2014.

This year’s artist lineup is yet to be announced but it is expected that the Hunza Traditional Band from Mominabad and Hunza Classical Group from Karimabad will take the charge as the house band.

Imtiaz Karim, the late flute player and a regular artist of Hunza Cultural Festival, will also be remembered in a special tribute. He was the founding member of Hunza Classical Group and had represented Hunza Music at various national and international platforms.

Imtiaz Karim passed away in Hunza on 5th July this year due to a cardiac arrest.

The platform of HCF has also been supportive of upcoming singers from lower Hunza (Shinaki), Central Hunza (Kanjud) and Upper Hunza (Gojal). New voices performing in Shina, Burushaski and Wakhi are expected to perform this year as well.

Details of the event can be found on the official Facebook event page.