T he Kalash are the only non-Muslim ethnic group living in three small and beautiful

valleys of district Chitral. They are the last tribe of the Kafirs of the Hindu Kush. The Kalash
exhibit, perhaps, one of the ancient and unique primitive traditions and cultures. They are
living with the Muslims in this region for a long period of time, and had been under Muslim
rule most of this period. In spite of being a small minority community, surrounded by the
Muslims from all sides, they still are able to sustain their religious ideas and practices to
display
the most
colourful
way of
living
and

celebrating
their unique culture in modern world. On the other hand the Kalash do not have any solid
ideological foundations. Their religious practices and customs are based on With the
strengthen of Muslim rule in Chitral in 14th century C. E. most of the Kalash embraced Islam
gradually, except a small number of them who up-hold their religion and customs, but they
were restricted to Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir, three small valleys that are known as the
Kalash Valleys till today.some mythological ideas along with nature, animal and ancestor
veneration.

1. CONCEPT OF GOD: The concept of god in Kalash religion is ambiguous which lead to
call then pagan or infidel by a number of the writers. In fact the Kalash believe in the
existence of the Creator, which they call Dezao and Khod they
Claim The Kalash (Urdu: Nuristani: Kasivo) or
to Kalasha, are indigenous people of the Hindu
Kush mountain range, residing in the Chitral
district of the North-West Frontier Province of LANGUAGE
Pakistan. They speak the Kalash language, from
the Dardic family of Indo-Iranic, and are
considered a unique tribe among the Indo-Aryan
The language of the Kalash
stock. Mology.  is a Dardic language
belonging to the Indo-
Aryan branch of the Indo-
Iranian group; itself part of
the larger Indo-European
family. It is classified as a
member of the Chitral sub-
group, the only other
member of that group
being Khowar. The
Norwegian Linguist Georg
Morgenstierne who studied
both languages wrote that
in spite of similarities
Kalasha is an independent
language in its own right,
not a mere dialect of
Khowar.
Currently about 5,000
people speak Kalasha and
it is considered critically
endangered by UNESCO.
Badshah Munir Bukhari
unicoded the Kalasha
Language in 2005.
Working in close
collaboration with various
international researchers
and linguists, Kalash
linguist Taj Khan Kalash
organized first "Kalasha
Orthography Conference
2000"in Islamabad
Pakistan.

worship him alone. A famous Kalash religious leader explains their concept of God: “Our
Muslim neighbors blame us for worshiping idols of stones and wood. We do not worship
these things, but we go to the places that are signs and symbols of our deities where we offer
sacrifice and pray to only one God. We are neither pagans nor atheist.

Despite of the claim of Kalash that they believe in one god and worship him alone, they
acknowledge a large number of deities, fairies, spirits and other supernatural beings as god or
associate with him in numerous maters.

Beside mythology and

animism, many forms of
nature, animal and ancestor
veneration can also be
observed in the religion of
Kalash. The respect and
reverence paid to
supernatural beings and all
things, mentioned above,
other than God by the
Kalash can never be justified
with the claim belief in one
God.

SOCIAL NORMS:

The Kalash are not frowns

on contact between the both
sexes, and do not in general
separate males and females.
Women can freely interact
with males in public and has
the right to choose her husband, even after marriage and having children she can elope with
her lover. Women can take part music and dance parties in public without any hesitation or
restriction.

Music and Dance: Music Singing and dancing is not simply an amusement but rather
and dance are integral it has religious meanings and can never be parted from their
part of Kalash culture. life. Kalash women actively take part in the functions of
music and dance on the
occasions of their
festivals in their
respective valleys.

Marrage by Elopment: In the Kalash parik) is counted as one of the "great

society marriage by elopement (Arlatshing customs" (ghōna dastūr). It is a legal form
of marriage in this society where the make all arrangements for wedding. Even
couple decide their marriage themselves a married female also has the right to leave
without consulting their elders. In these her husband and marry another person
situations the parents have no option but to who is ready to pay Duk, double bide
accept the decision of their children and price.

Burying of Dead Bodies: In the past, dead bodies of Kalash were put in wooden boxes
(coffins) and placed in open air. In recent years (since 1970s), the Kalash have started burying
their coffins, but the old ones can be seen in Mandao Jao, the Kalash cemetery, in all three
Kalash valleys.14 In fact there was continuous pressure on the Kalash by their Muslim
neighbours to stop placing the coffins in open air.

However influence of the Muslim on Kalash thought and practice is the prime factor in
changing the age-old tradition of the Kalash for dispose of the dead bodies from open-air
cemetery to underground burial.

Statues of Forefathers: The Kalash used to erect big wooden carved effigy called Gandao,
which is placed in the cemetery, for the memory of the dead ancestors.they also used to make
Gandurik, a small statue of a man seated or on horseback.
 Also Called The
Black Kafirs………..

I
t would be
hoisted on a
decorated
pole, placed
in one of the
dead man‟s fields or
at the entrance of his
village.The
ceremony of making
Gandao and
Gundurik is quite
costly, only a few
can afford them, but
despite of its heavy
cost many Gandao
and Gundurik were
erected by the influential Kalash in the past.
 Taboos: Taboos are basic things which are

strictly observed in a traditional society, like of the Kalash. Changes in some taboo have
taken place in Kalash society. For instance

Similarly use of onion was forbidden in Kalash society, especially on the occasions of
religious and cultural ceremonies. It was due to its bad smell that is disliked by Kalash deities
according to Kalash tradition.

Chicken and eggs were supposed to be deadly polluted, and were forbidden in the Kalash
society. Old days, no Kalash village ever permitted its presence. Going a chicken near altars
or shrines is bad omen and can cause for some disaster in the valleys.

Mourning: Mourning is an important part of funeral in Kalash society and it continues till
the next festival following the incident of the death. There is special mourning for couples.
During this period there are some restrictions on their movements, along with other
requirements of mourning. After giving sacrifice of goats on different stages the mourning
period comes to an end. In the past this period was about 5-6 months but nowadays it reduced
to 2-3 months. Beside reduction in the period of mourning some relaxation in restriction of
movement and taking part in social activities can also be observed.

Use of Wine: Wine is used by Kalash at large scale especially on cultural and religious
ceremonies, thus it can be considered as integral part of Kalash culture. They make wine
locally and preserve it in cans. There are especial events to open preserved wines, usually in
seasonal festivals and events of birth, marriage, death or feast for prestige these preserved
wines are opened and use freely at large scale. In their ordinary life the Kalash use wine
freely and frequently.
 Making wine
The most important Festivals:

 Joshi Festvial
 Uchau Festival
 Caumus Festival

 Joshi
It is celebrated in May and marks the arrival of spring. People wear new
cloths and women wear accessorize heavily, girls are send to the hill side for
dancing and singing. Women decorate their houses and collect milk from the
cattle, one year old babies and their mother are also purified in this festival.
The first day of Joshi is the “Milk day” on which the kalash offer libations of
milk that have been saved for ten days prior to the festival.
Main feature of the festival is selection of life partner
for unmarried boys and girls.

 Uchau
This festival take place in the mid-august at the altar of mahandeo where
newly made cheese is brought from the pastures.
Dancing and singing again forms an integral part of the festival.
  Caumus
The most important Kalash festival is the Chaumos (cawmo¯s, ghona chawmos
yat, Khowar "chitrimas" from *ca¯turma¯sya, CDIAL 4742), which is celebrated
for two weeks at winter solstice (c. Dec. 7-22), at the beginning of the month
chawmos mastruk. It marks the end of the year's fieldwork and harvest. It involves
much music, dancing, and the sacrifice of many goats. It is dedicated to the god
Balimain who is believed to visit from the mythical homeland of the Kalash, Tsyam
(Tsiyam, tsíam), for the duration of the feast. Food sacrifices are offered at the
clans' Jeshtak shrines, dedicated to the ancestors.A Kalash man dances during the
Uchau FestivalAt Chaumos, impure and uninitiated persons are not admitted; they
must be purified by a waving a fire brand over women and children and by a
special fire ritual for men, involving a shaman waving juniper brands over the
men.

In 1970s, after the visit of Mr. Zulfiqar Ali

Bhutto (the then Prime Minister of Pakistan) to Kalash valleys, a group
Of Kalash women was invited by local authorities to perform dance and
Other cultural activities on the occasion of Jashn-e-Chitral, (grand
Festival of Chitral) at polo ground.
 Kalash men in
traditional outlook.

(In festival)
Colours Of Kalash Valley, Dancing And Singing
 Kalash women dancing, at Joshi festival

Kalash Valley: Where Fairies Dance And Sing……..

 The kafirs dance is performed in the hills
Kalash House stations of Chitral, Kalash-the much eye
These extraordinary wood,
glass and stone structures in pleasing ,heart hitting and stupendously
kalash valley of chitral are a gorgeouslocale to b there.
terat to look and to live in.
Not overly expensive, these
simple houses are real The main instruments,these people use in
structural marvels.
It is also called the kafirstan
generating the music are drums and
of Pakistan it is totally flutes.By using both ,the churn out the
inhabitant by non-Muslims. It
is very unique cultural valley music which is quite pleasing ang magical
of Pakistan. The traditions,
customs and culture of to ears.
Kalash valley are totally
different from all other In their traditional costumes ,these eople
regions of Pakistan. It is
purely mountainous area of do the kafir dance.The steps
Chitral and situated at the
bank of stream. The culture Of the dance are quiet simple –they put
and tradition of Kalash valley
is affected by Greek culture. their arms in arms and then sway to the
The houses in Kalash valley
are constructed in unique rhythm of sphree flute,tumbruk and dhol.
architect design of logs.
Travelers can access Kalash The dance is accompained by sad songs in
valley by road way. The
specific jeeps are used to loud. The songs make the complaints of
travel in Kalash valley
because it is totally the old days.
mountainous area. If you
ever visit CHITRAL, must In this dance and music, there exist the
travel to Kalash valley. You’ll
never forget the unique four beats laced with slow and fast
beauty and culture of Kalash
valley. The kalashians are versions of each. The fast verson of this
very nice and hospitable in dance and music is used in weddings and
welcoming their guests;
you’ll surely fall in love with festivels where as the slower one is
Kalash valley.
perfomed at deaths.
PIA plane crashes near Abbottabad, all
passengers feared dead
 ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan International Airlines plane carrying 47 people crashed Wednesday on a
domestic flight from Chitral to Islamabad, aviation authorities said.
The Islamabad bound flight PK-661 took off at 3:30 pm from Chitral and went missing near Abbottabad
before the pilots lost control over the aircraft and contact with control tower around 4:22 pm. A thick
cloud of smoke was also seen billowing from the area where the aircraft came down.

Former famous Pakistani singer

Junaid Jamshed, his wife Nahya,
and Deputy Commissioner
Osama Ahmed Waraich were
also among the passengers on
the ill-fated plane. According to
family members, Jamshed was in
Chitral on a preaching tour. 31
men, nine women and two
infants were on board the flight,
including at least three
foreigners, according to local
media reports.

 The cause of the

crash was not immediately clear.

Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Pervez George said a team of experts would determine
the cause after retrieving the plane's black box recorder.
"I don't think there is any chance of finding any survivors," he said.
“VERY SAD, TODAYS TRAGIC PLANE CRASH NEAR HAVELIAN.
47 PEOPLE ON BOARD CHITRAL TO ISLAMABAD FLIGHT.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH BEREAVED FAMILIES”
STAY BLESSED THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF CHITRAL.
SABAHAT SHIREEN

“There is no compromise when

It comes to corruption.
You have to fight it”

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