Cultural Expressions of Kalash

Few months ago I had a visit to Kalash valley situated in Lower District Chitral. Academically, the Kalash are considered to be an indigenous people of Asia, with their ancestors migrating to Chitral valley from another location perhaps further south, which the Kalash call "Tsiyam" in their folk songs and classics.

Some of the Kalash ethnicities consider the various Kalash people to have been migrants or refugees. The inhabitants of the valley are the Kalash people, who have a unique culture, language and following a form of ancient Hinduism. As such, the Kalasha Valleys are a source of attraction for Pakistanis as well as International tourists.

Kalash people who are the descendants of Alexander the great. The culture of the Kalash people is unique and differs in many ways from the many contemporary Islamic ethnic groups surrounding them in northwestern Pakistan. They are polytheists and nature plays a highly significant and spiritual role in their daily life.

The three main Kalash Festivals are Chilam Joshi (spring festival), Choimus (winter festival) and Uchal (summer festival).

Kalasha women usually wear long black robes, often embroidered with cowrie shells. For this reason, they are known in Chitral as "the Black Kafirs". Men have adopted the Pakistani shalwar kameez, while children wear small versions of adult clothing after the age of four.

When I visited kalash valley on last September,2021 to explore kalash especially Bumborate valley I meet with these beautiful guys there, the way they welcomed me at their home and dress me in their unique culture dress up.