Social Impacts of Festivals on Local Communities: A Case Study of District Chitral

Abstract

This thesis seeks to unveil the range of social impacts that festivals have on their host community. Small community based gatherings is the subject of this research considering the strong connection to their host community because these festivals are celebrated by the community around a particular theme developed within the community itself. These small community oriented gatherings have the abilities providing both tangible impacts like encouragement of the local economy by stimulating event based tourism, generating additional income and tax revenue, and intangible opportunities provided by these festivals were socialization, entertainment and fostering of social networks, which can enhance the augmentation of social capital, contribute in the enhancement of community cohesion and many more. Festivals also have the potential to create negative social impacts such as underage drinking, crowding, and traffic congestion. In order to ascertain resident’s perception of social impacts of festivals in Chitral valley three community-based festivals are selected, one in the Kalash Valley of lower Chitral district, and other two from upper Chitral district. Data was collected from the residents of in each of the three venues. Mix methodology i.e., quantitative and qualitative were used including informal interviews, participant observation, different official reports, books and questionnaires. Data analysis shown that participants were almost unanimous about the occurrence of positive impacts of festivals in dimensions like economy, community cohesion, entertainment and socialization, community growth and development, and rated them DRSML QAU DRSML QAU viii highly positive. About the negative impacts, responses are divided with almost half of the respondents deny or remain neutral about the occurrence of such impacts. This may show that impacts can be perceived as positive by some and negative by other members of the community but results, supports the notion that economic perception remain an important factor for the community, despite the occurrence of range of negative impacts. Income is one the most important drivers for hosting events and residents are aware of the economic value of the festivals. Willingly toleration of the negative impacts by the local residents reflects two possibilities,it may be due to the economic benefits or lack awareness about damages that are inflicting upon them as a result of celebrations. Studies of this nature are scarce, in Pakistan specially in Chitral. So, consequently the results should be considered in the planning of other events. This research has a number of implications for the management of future community festivals, in respect to providing a better understanding of residents’ perceptions of the social impacts a festival, and related to how festivals can be used to contribute to community wellbeing and the enhancement of social capital. At the same time this research also holds another important implication for festivals managers that they should create awareness among people about the negative outcomings of the festivals and build community support for the festivals in areas where this has not been done, feeling of hostility between the local community and the tourists/visitors are heightened, and lack of community support has been identified as a major reason for failure of events (Getz, 2007). Key words Chitral, Kalash, Social Capital, Community Based Festivals, Community Cohesion