A ritual observed by the
Shina-speaking populations residing in various sections of Gilgit-Baltistan,
"Shaap" is a celebration
of the New Year. This ritual is performed in winter and it is a holiday that
commemorates the beginning of a new calendar year.
One individual clothes as
an elderly man, while another dresses as an old woman. Several groups of
adolescents and seniors dress in masks for the celebration. Before performing
the ceremony, this group first seeks permission from the occupants of the home
in question, after which they pray for wealth, peace, and plentiful harvests as
they visit homes around the town. They also perform traditional music and
dances from throughout Gilgit Baltistan. Residents of the homes they have visited
have been nice enough to offer them gifts in exchange for their time. The vast
majority of the gifts are in the form of money, wheat, and meat, among other
things. After two or three days of preparation, this group of young people
creates a range of delights to be shared with one another and to commemorate
the event.
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