Explore The Unique Culture Of Kalash Valley

Unique Culture and History of Kalash People

1- Kalash History

The origins of Kalash valley still remain unresolved as their history is shrouded behind a number of controversies, theories, and mysteries. However, all of these three theories have a lot of significance and are thought to be the most accurate. The most magnificent of all is that the Kalash valley has a romantic view of being Alexander the Great's descendants. Many historians, on the other hand, believe they are an indigenous tribe from the Nuristan region, also known as Kafiristan (the land of Kafirs). The ruler of Afghanistan, Amir Abdul Rahman, is said to have captured the region of Nuristan in 1895 and forced the locals to convert to Islam. Many people migrated to Chitral during this time to avoid being converted. According to the third idea, the Kalashas' ancestors came from Tsiam- a faraway land in South Asia. The Tsiam is regarded to be these people's traditional home. The Kalash’s folk songs and stories related to the existence of Tsiam and the fact that their ancestors belong to that region.

2- Kalash Language

The language of the Kalash is the Kalasha and is a Dardic language (sub-group of Indo-Aryan languages spoken in eastern Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir). UNESCO classifies the language as severely endangered since it is only spoken by a small number of people (about 5000). The Kalasha language does not have a formal script; however, there has been significant progress in developing a formal script of this Kalasha language.

3- Kalash Religion

The Kalash are a Dardic indigenous tribe whose religion is still a mystery. They are polytheists, which distinguishes them from the rest of Pakistani society. Some experts believe the Kalash tribe practices animism, while others believe they practice ancient Hinduism.

4- Kalash Culture

The people of Kalash are exceedingly religious, and any of them who converts to Islam will be excommunicated. Converts are not permitted to remain in their community following conversion. They maintain a strong sense of identity. Kalash residents differ from those in the neighboring communities in a number of ways. There is no separation between females and males in Kalash and they are free to keep in touch and talk without any fingers being raised at them. Furthermore, when Kalash females are deemed impure, such as during periods, childbirth, or other times, they are sent to reside in a bashalani. These women can only reside here if they have regained their purity and completed the purification process.

Kalash women wear long, flowy black robes with vivid embroidery and cowrie shells. These women are also seen wearing colorful beads and necklaces, which set them apart from the rest of the Chitral women. They wear colorful long braided headbands to enhance their black robes. The males of the Kalash, on the other hand, have adopted Pakistani national attire, the shalwar kameez, and are frequently seen wearing waistcoats over it. They also wear headgear typical of Pakistan's northwestern region.

Kalash's people march to the beat of a different drummer. Their traditions and customs are as diametrically opposed as day and night, particularly when it comes to marriage. Elopement marriage is more popular in the Kalash valley, and it is also common among women who are previously married to another man. In fact, wife elopement is regarded as one of Kalash's most cherished traditions. When a man and woman marry, the male pays a particular amount to the woman's family in order to have her. When a woman wishes to divorce her current husband and marry another man, she makes herself available to that man and tells him how much her current husband paid for her. To marry an already married woman, the male must pay a double amount to have her.