Kalash People
The Kalash believe they are
originally from Tsiam, although no one yet knows where that is. It is more
likely they are descendants from Indo-Aryans (about 2000BC). Many
historians believe the Kalash are descendants of the soldiers of Alexander
the Great.
The kalash valleys of Rumbur,
Bumburet and Birir are within Chitral District of Pakistan. The kalash
people are the only non-Muslims for hundreds of miles. They may be a
little wary of strangers, but usually do welcome who wants to become
acquainted with the kalash way of life.
The 3500 Kalash of the valleys
live in unique houses made of local stone and wood which are stacked on
top of one another at steep hillsides. The roof of one house is the
verandah of another, on top of the lower house. They make their living
with staple crops like lentils or wheat and by goat herding. Life is very
traditional, like in many parts of the world, and the work division
between men and their women is elaborate. Family life, cattle herding and
harvesting form their main livelihood with the occasional distraction of a
festival or two. Women move into a Bashaleni house when giving birth and
also when they are menstruating. Many aspects of the society are both
communal and segregated and typically, marriages are made by arrangement.
Beliefs and
Celebrations
The Kalash are famous for their
festivals and dress code. They for example know how to let their hair down
in style. There is much dancing where the elders chant legends with drum
accompaniment and the women dance around in the open place. Locally brewed
wine is drunk in copious quantities. The festival dates are only fixed to
a certain extent as the people and the dates depend on the harvest.
The festival of Chilimjusht or
Joshi is for spring harvest and last 4-6 days around mid May and the Uchal
festival on 20th August celebrates the pre-harvest with cheese,
corn and wine. Chitirmas in mid December celebrates the winter solstice
and is the most impressive festival, lasting for up to 10 days.
The kalash worship many gods of
Kafiristan like Balomain, the heroic demi-god of the kalash Balomain’s
spirit is said to pass through the valley counting the people of Kalash
and collecting their prayers to return them to Tsiam, the mythical land of
the kalash.
The Kalash people thank the
creator during their festivals. Each festival is meant to give thanks to
the Almighty. The dancing is one way of showing happiness and thankfulness
towards the Creator.
Much of the dancing take place in
large circles around a bonfire and people chant with mesmerizing
repetitions – with just a drum beat accompanying the voices. The girls
wear intricate dresses made of cowry shells, coins and beads with
beautiful hair braiding and headwear. Each heavy headdress weighing
several pounds is presented to a girl by her uncle. The jewellery includes
necklaces made from apricot kernels, a traditional gift during the
festivals. Single women are expected to find themselves a husband during
these festivals.
Just before the main festival,
seasonal food is offered to the ancestral spirits and a kotik, light for
the ancestors, is lit. After this ritual the food, considered impure, is
offered to the elderly women to be eaten.
During the festival, purity is
paramount and celibacy is enforced throughout the days of the event so all
the people will have a pure mind when Balomain visit the valley. All
people must clean themselves in a ritual bath the week before the festival
begins. During the men’s purification ceremony, they may not sit down at
all during the day and at night the blood of a sacrificed goat is
sprinkled on their faces. Special bread is eaten, baked away from the main
village, and prepared by men only during the purification ceremony.
Another Bread, called jaou, is prepared for the festival and stuffed with
crushed walnuts and goat cheese.
Special dance halls exist for the purpose of some of the dancing at
festivals. They are decorated with carved and ornate wooden pillars and
goat-like figurines. The music and dance is a performance of set songs:
the cha or clapping song is the simplest one to a lilting dance, sung by
the elders.
Festival
Kalash people organize Uchal, the
harvest celebration to pay homage to the Almighty that blessed them with
fruits and other crops. They prepare cheese, buttermilk and corn to
celebrate this festival.
During the festival prayers, a
procession is made to a high plateau outside the village in Balangkuru
where the long night of dancing begins. The festivals continue for many
more days moving on to different locations within the valleys.
Itinerary
|
Date |
Days |
Activities |
Overnight |
|
15 August |
1 |
Arrival in Islamabad.
Afternoon City Tour. |
Hotel |
|
16 August |
2 |
Fly or Drive for Chitral. |
Hotel |
|
17 August |
3 |
Drive to Bumburet, Kalash
valley. 2 hours drive. |
Camp |
|
18-22 August |
4-8 |
Well experience of kalash spring festival and Enjoy Kalash girls’
dance and other activitiesduring
the Event.
|
Camp |
|
23 August |
9 |
Drive back to Chitral.
Afternoon visit to Tooshi for Wildlife watching and Photography. |
Hotel |
|
24 August |
10 |
Fly to Islamabad. Afternoon
Islamabad City tour. |
Hotel |
|
25 August |
11 |
Transfer to Airport for
onward destination. |
|
Service included:
-
Assistance
upon on Arrival and Departure.
-
All meal
during Hotel stay and Camping.
-
Road
transfer between Airport/hotel and within city as per itinerary.
-
Dome tents
for sleeping (1 tent for 2 people) at Camp. Mess tent with table and
stools, kitchen tent and toilet tent.
-
Camping site
fees and bridge crossing.
-
Kitchen
equipment, crockery, cutlery, fuel and all related gear.
-
Wages of
Guide, Cook, and Assistant Cook
-
Porterage at
Airport, hotels, tool taxes and parking fees etc.
-
Domestic
airfare. Surface transfer incase of flight cancellation.
Service not included:
-
International air fare, airport taxes, excess baggage charges.
-
Sleeping
bags personal and Personal equipment of any kind
-
Medications.
-
Insurance
liability of members.
-
Tips for
field staff, drivers and porters.
