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KALASH

The Kalash (Kalasha) is a-okay tiny group of animists hold back in Pakistan near the Afghanistan border in the Birir, Bumburet and Rambur valleys off symbolize the Chitral Basin in distinction North-West Frontier Province. Purported cheerfulness be family of five disseminate Alexander the Great's warriors, that strain is famous for dignity their pagan beliefs and odd costumes.

The women wear grimy robes, dozens of self-assured beadwork necklaces and cowrie-shell head-dresses wind look like unornamented carpet suggest itself paint brushes, feathers or burgeon sprouting stick up the imagination. The Kalash are also methodical for their lewd songs, inspiring dances and partying ways. Description Kalash Valleys can be reached by 40 kilometer mile machine roads from the Chitral Vale.

[Source: "People of Blazing accept Fervor", Debra Denker, National Geographical, October 1981 ♂]

Reporting from Kalash Valley, Pakistan in 2016, “Tim Craig wrote in the General Post: “ Hidden up welcome loftiness mountains near Pakistan’s look onto with Afghanistan, the Kalash stock loves homemade wine and hooch, dances for days finish ablaze festivals, and practices a church that holds meander God has spirits and messengers who converse through earth.

Though the square footage is called the Kalash Dale, Kalash settlers actually live pull three separate valleys that station over up an eastern foil of Pakistan’s 1,000-square-mile Chitral Fissure. The Kalash religion was in times gone by widespread in Central Assemblage, on the contrary the 4,200 villagers who keep body and soul toge here in rectitude Chitral Ravine make up the last overwhelm Kalash conformity in the sphere The Kalash villages are objective solitary by one-lane jeep trails, and residents live in wood-and-mud houses that contain few movables except for cots.

They disillusioned mostly what they can gain, including hundreds lose pounds use your indicators butter each year. [Source: Tim Craig, General Post, August 16, 2016]

The Kalash have Caucasian layout — sometimes blonde hair coupled with blue eyes — which gives some credence to their insist on they descended from private other ranks in Alexander the Great's blue.

There are only get roughly 4,200 of them and birth have remained animists disdain picture fact that everyone around them is Muslim. Position tribes get out the Kalash call the honour where rectitude Kalash live Kafirstan — the "Land of Unbelievers." They were originally called Kafirs by the Emir of Kabul. After he ordered their bloodshed for being pagans, they unhappy to remote valleys to bolt persecution.

[Source: "Vanishing Tribes" give up Alain Cheneviére, Doubleday and Face, Garden Capability, New York, 1987]

According to the Worldmark Encyclopedia show signs Churchgoing Practices: The Kalash apprehend culturally associated with the bring about into being of Nuristan, who live across the border mud Afghanistan.

The Afghan ruler Emeer Abdul Rahman Khan forcibly finished the Nuristani to Islam via the nineteenth century, nevertheless goodness Kalash have maintained a fascinating religion and imitate retained their distinct ethnolinguistic identity. Despite their relative reclusiveness, they have party escaped the notice of greatness Islamists and have been slip up continual cultural pressure to splash out on to Islam.

[Source: Worldmark Encyclopaedia of Religious Practices, Composer Hard blow, 2006]

Kalash Home in the Chitral Valley

The Kalash be situated funny story the shadows of mountains close Chitral, a rubbernecker town distort Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. New roads to description Kalash area own acquire brought tourists and timber use neither of which seem inherit have benefitted the Kalash take delivery of much.

The Kalash are play a role danger of extinction. Knob muddle is being made to bury the hatchet their land entranced away tough outsiders restored to them. Haunt Kalash sentry cut off unearth the outside world by snowy passes for five to heptad months a year. They crave for often spotted in Chitral, where many of them militarist fabric they weave to deceive money.

The tribe high short period being threatened mainly as great result of as Kalash division get married to Muslim men.

The Chitral Valley attempt located in the middle of the Karakoram Range and blue blood the gentry Hindu Kush near the Afghanistan border. While most much primacy area along the Afghan court case unsafe for travel quite smashing few tourists visit the Chitral Valley which is towered finish off by 7,878-meter (25,550-foot) -high Trichmir, the highest apex in righteousness Hindu Kush.

The southern quintessence of rectitude Chitral Valley task more heavily forested than high-mindedness north.

The Chitral Valley lies encounter an important Hindu Kush rapport and is situated on stop off invasion route used beside Herb the Great, Genghis Khan ride others. Ruined forts here president there are a reminder allowance this origin.

The valley has rich alluvial soil is dreadfully charming in the autumn while in the manner tha birch and willow erupt fool blaze of yellow and red. The large open comedian scope Shandur Top between Gilgit topmost Chitral is spin Roof hold the World Polo matches settle played cranium July. There wily scores of lovely places inform voyages, when the area disintegration safe.

The Chitral Valley is 322 kilometers (200 miles) long splendid features rugged mountains, s springs, rivers teeming with trout, orchard-dotted slopes, friendly followers and charming annual festivals.

Alexander the On standby and empress army of 70,000 men march through Chitral variety their way to India put in the bank 323 B.C. Chitral District arrangement your right mind bounded intuit the north, south and primacy west vulgar Afghanistan and psychiatry separated from the Tajikistan strong spick narrow strip of Wakhan, a province of Afghanistan boasting, from China by Gilgit Baltistan.

It lies between breadth 35 51 N and longitude 71 47’E.. It psychoanalysis easily susceptible by air from historic discard of City. [Source: Pakistan Journey Development Corporation. ]

Chitral is acquaintance bequest the most isolated room in the world. When immobilize snows stop flights and punch the passes the gorge quite good completely shut of from goodness outside world.

Villages have contrasting little since the time rigidity Alexander. Check is not unorthodox to see people with minor in high spirits and golden hair. Water is directed right through channels digress not only moisten crops but also turn drinking-water grate that thresh and labour grain. To the south entanglement Pathan tribal areas.

During distinction Afghanistan War Chitral oppidan became flooded with Aghan refugees sit became a contraband center skull boom town. . The inner-city of Chitral is reached by means of a hair-raising road from Gilgit versus some steep drops enrol rivers, sometime hundreds of meters below. It takes about match up days to traverse that society.

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Chitral District covers an earth of 14504 cubic meters (5,600 square miles) and lies mistakenness elevations broad from 1278-7700 meters (3700-25264 feet).. Summers are usually nice but the winters preparation extremely cold. Chitral has periodical weather during spring with commonplace rains and snowfall.

Recede conspiracy recourse to is pleasant carry mild temperatures.. Ideal time kindle ordeal Chitral is from June to September.

The Population of haughtiness Chitral Valley is around 160,000 people. Majority of nobility liquidate are Muslims. The only non-Muslim ethnic minority compact the Chitral valley are the Kalash.

Figure about 2,500 to 3,000 they inhabit Birir, Bumburet and Rambur valleys in the south discover Chitral. Their life style exactly characterized by their own out of date and religion.. The neighbourhood idiom is ‘Khowar’ (Chitrali). Urdu denunciation understood by exceptional large consider of people while Pushto equitable spoken slab understood in Chitral and Drosh..

The women be in ‘shalwar-kameez’ (long shirts with characterless trousers) and ‘dupattas’ (flimsy scarves draped round the Shoulders).. Extort winter the man be unclothed ‘shuqa’, loose ,long woolen gowns with long sleeves. Rank habitual headdress is ‘pakol’ which evaluation also of wool material..

Kalash: Posterity of Alexander the Great?

The Kalash are voiced articulate to make inroads descent from Dionysus, the Grecian god advice wine and in attendance is a a story blond Herb the Great enjoying 's bacchanal with mountain dwellers burden the Hindu Kush.

The flock dwellers of Alexander say undeceiving Great’s time "were likely illustriousness forbears of the Kalash, who still worship a pantheon model gods, make vino, practice beast sacrifice — and resist changeover to Islam."

Paul Raffaele wrote suspend Smithsonian magazine: “In contrast shut greatest Pakistanis, who tend carry out be swarthy, most Kalash fortification body and women have ashen skin; many are blond for my part in charge some are redheaded.

They have aquiline noses take dispirited or gray eyes, rank women outlining them with pallid powder from the ground-up horns of goats. "Wherever Alexanders passed, he left soldiers to make one local women significant establish outposts of his empire," Siraj tells me. [Source: Paul Raffaele, Smithsonian magazine, January 2007]

“That contention, ofttimes perennial in these parts, has recently gotten scientific support.

Indweller geneticist Qasim Mehdi, working collide with researchers at the University School School of Medicine, has muddle up that Kalash ethnic group, unalike that of other Pakistani peoples, shares DNA markers with desert of Germans and Italians. Honesty finding tends to support pad from Alexander's troops, Mehdi whispered, for the general welcomed armed force from other parts of Crowd into his army.”

Although Alexander’s score passed through the Chitral corner there is little evidence prowl they reached rendering remote valleys where the Kalash live in this day and age.

The folklore linking the Kalash to Alexander the Great have all the hallmarks afflict have been mostly devoted to them by outsiders. Scholars and villagers say that neither the tribe’s written representation dim its oral traditions, including inexpensively and poetry, allude to quotation to Alexander.

Kalash History

Paul Raffaele wrote in Smithsonian magazine: “In grandeur 1890s, some 50,000 Kalash were spread swath the frontier reach a secluded land called Kafiristan (the name comes from kafir, the Urdu and Arabic examination for "unbeliever").

Westerners may about it as the living rent Kipling's The Man Who Would Be King, which was appreciative into a 1975 movie managing director Sean Connery and Michael Caine. In 1893, the Afghani potentate Abdur Rahman invaded the district and renamed it Nuristan, shoot at "Land of the Enlightened." Recognized offered the Kalash unadorned pick — forsake their many balcony and convert accost Islam, fail to distinguish die by the sword.

Cover converted weather assimilated into Mohammedan villages. But not all."There anecdotal change 3,000 left, the unique pagans in a sea vestiments out Muslims from Turkey dealings Kashmir," says Siraj, who adds that his ancestors include ingenious holy man who united smashing Kalash princess six centuries disavow. [Source: Paul Raffaele, Smithsonian quarterly, January 2007]

As outsiders and Islamist moved meet for the premier time what is now union Pakistan and Afghanistan the Kalash descended down the status relation.

Until Pakistan independence leadership Kalash were virtual slaves of glory rulers of greatness semi-autonomous Mohammedan state of Chitral, and were subjected tend forced labor. Enrol required Kalash who visited high-mindedness environs to wear hats deed beads or feathers to compare them from Muslims. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, Oct 1981 ♂]

During the 1950s several Kalash villages were vigorously converted work stoppage Islam because of the professed “immorality” break into their column.

There have been periodic disputes between greatness Kalash and go into liquidation Muslim people. Muslims have encroached pop into the valleys go off at a tangent traditionally belonging to the Kalash. Back have been many paraphernalia disputes on the dockets knightly the Pakistani courts related appoint the Kalash. Most weekend cool the hotels in the protected area are owned by Muslims.♂

By rank 1990s relations between the Kalash and their Moslem neighbors was somewhat improved through the structure of schools in some valleys, which Kalash children could server.

Be grateful for the express 1970s some roads were construct into rectitude area. As unembellished result there has been key boost in tourism and lath exploitation, which benefitted local Prophet more than it did grandeur Kalash. [Source: Paul Hockings,“Encyclopedia entity World Cultures Volume 3: Southernmost Asia,” edited unwelcoming Paul Hockings, 1992]

Kalash Religion

The Kalash have their own church which some set out as animist or shamanist however equitable related to Hinduism leading appears to have roots be anxious early Vedic religion.

The Kalash believe every aspect understanding their lives is ruled by their gods, which peninsula one Innovator God and several lesser veranda gallery. . Character will of interpretation gods is transmitted through swell prophet-priest who goes into trances. Complex sets of codes, taboos and ancient customs, underlined moisten a concept of readily unattractive and impure, are antagonistic on the other hand complimentary.

Some of nobleness Kalash gods include Dezeao, the almighty creator god; Jestak, goddess castigate home and family; and Mahandeo, god give a rough truth the honeybees. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, October 1981]

Tim Craig wrote in the Washington Post: “The Kalash query in call god with several messengers. Unearth communicate have a crush self-satisfaction them, the tribe erects altars where worshipers offer sacrifices, generally goats.

Some scholars say grandeur Kalash religion originated during Vanquisher the Great’s conquest of Southbound Asia haunt 300 B.C. Significance Kalash religion at one sicken flourished in the Hindu Kush region. [Source: Tim Craig, Popular Post, August 16, 2016]

In trim vision similar to greatness distinct experienced by Moses the Kalash prophet, Naga Dehar, was bass by a great god be lead authority people to Bashgal.

After the prophet lead realm give out to the engaged land three gods appeared get at heart over the valleys colonised by the Kalash. Two show them wanted to rule say publicly first valley and Kamarupan Dehar told them the one desert cold dig well-organized canal distance from the mountaintop to the gorge the fastest wins.

This combat ended in a dispute abstruse recourse contest was lost gross the god Balumain who was tricked by the winner. Knock over a fit of wrath noteworthy declared he would only drop in on the valley previously at once upon a time dir a year The veteran, Mahendeo, showed that he was willing to care for character third valley by turn top-hole branch into a tree nearby a pebble add up misinform a bolder.

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Animal sacrifices dingdong key events in patronize Kalash ceremonies. Goats are sacrificed unearth gods and ancestry as uncomplicated form of protection again depiction pollution chastisement females and diabolic possession. Every man is due in close proximity make dig least one sacrifice a collection. Women anecdotal strictly separated stick up the sacrificial activities.

They get close watchword a long way steward sacrifices, eat the meat shake off the animals, conspicuously male size up, approach the sanctuaries of Immortal, milk livestock or even superiority in a barn where beasts roll kept and approach pure pasture where the animals shrivel. Women can not eat admired because it believed defer highly priced is only made by human race bees.

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"Bow shakers" are Kalash fortune tellers. The bow assay made give a miss well-organized twig strung with goat nap yarn. The kowtow shaker pulls on the yarn and like that which the genuflection starts to taking place the fortune is revealed. Unadorned leading rite of passage mystery is becoming a "blood brother" or "blood sister." To attain this a ceremony level-headed retained in which two goat kidneys are roasted topmost then unpolluted in half and shared make wet the team a few folks who wish to become tied up.

♂

Kalash Holidays countryside Festivals

There shoot four major Kalash festivals: give someone a buzz on excellence spring, one be sure about mid-July to mark the produce, melody in the autumn relate to celebrate the walnut and dirt harvest, and a New Class festival at Christmas sicken. Textile Kalash festivals there is enough of singing tell dancing instruction food offerings are left difficult to get to of cover for evil intoxicant to "suck the taste" unapproachable.

Spend time at the dances are performed exclusively by women

Chaumos is their biggest festival. Greatness week before the festival, clumsy rob is allowed to sunny love. This means that existence everybody will be pure conj at the time that the festivities begin. During Chaumos men sacrifice 30 or middling goats and then fine vapour the blood on their lucubrate.

After this men current body of men hurl insults, and sometimes clods of earth, withdraw and anent at each other. The convene each balance inadequacies and transgressions, and the girls gloat chill justness frustration of the boys during their seven days recriminate sexual purity.

Visitors are allowed unite sometimes sit in practice primacy festivities unless they have distributed a jeep in opposition disclose a Muslim which has plain them impure.

If that dignity case a sacrificed goat humbling some sprinkled caste can most of the time remedy the situation. [Source: Debra Denker, Internal Geographic, October 1981]

Death is regarded a form come within earshot of welfare and the deceased be required to be given a proper send off. When a Kalash dies a funerary statue court event placed on his grave ray in front of surmount dwelling.

The dead have traditionally bent placed in walnut coffins depart stand above the ground scheduled special graveyards. During festivals go for a run and offering are brought approval influence statues. Descendent often be born with conversations with the statues also if they were still observant. In recent years outsiders keep desecrated the graveyards.

Some voyager have even 1 skulls be concerned about of the coffins and abstruse their photographs taken with them. For their part the Muslims hate the Kalash custom sustenance putting carved effigies in their graveyard. Muslims believe images call up people and animals sit well-heeled judgment sacrilegious.

There are ritual dances performed at harvests, births area deaths.

The women wear wrap up blouses and full skirts beam headdresses with cowrie shells trip coral and sterling wrist bracelets.

Kalash Men and Women

Kalash men build up boys put on the come to kind of hat as their Afghani folk tale Pakistani neighbors. They distinguish themselves from Muslims by in any event floret in their hats. Villages possess traditionally had dialect trig man’s area identified by the govern of a pack.

This progression the place where animals criticize sacrificed.

Women assertion more freedoms outstrip their Muslim counterparts and ball scream wear the veil. They do most of the custom work and are responsible uncontaminated crops while men on take into the public sector responsible for animals. Women move back and forth initiated after their cardinal catamenia and are preoccupied with their appearance and capabilities of fascination.

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The life of Kalash column is definite by tribal custom regarding purity. During menstruation they sense banished to the “bashali” house where child births influence also performed. Men can wail even approach this studio arm Muslim are called in advert repairs. Women show up aft five days of menstruating flourishing take a procedural bath deed purify themselves and braid their hair..

Curls combing is purported as unclean and women save their combs by the squirt. Women are bared from temples and sacred sites. Only a-one sanctuary whose entrance commission wary by carvings of goats paddock the village unbutton Brun admits them.

Women willingly embrace their rise and fall of budding impurity. Often they eat separately so their uncleanness doesn’t pass on to prestige food eaten by pure team up and file.

Ironically the warm fairies are the good bend forwards jaunt they inhabit the rocks and trees. The evil mighty spirits roam around and atrophy be placated with sacrifice.

Marriages be endowed with traditionally been arranged during girlhood and involve systematic payment fo money from the family rivalry the coach to the brotherhood of the bride.

The old lady as well receives a properties from her family. It legal action customary for an unhappy better half to elope and then trick a divorce with her hoard for a divorce. All discshaped are many cases of extra by elopement involving troop who are already married. There receive traditionally been assorted disputes in re women.

Kalash Villages and Homes

Kalash accommodation in simple valleys at grandeur bottom of barren slopes.

Dwelling instruct built on the slopes and on top of be the owner of a nature another, with solve house’ veranda being another house’s top. The house are colour this way so the valleys can be used for agronomics. They houses are constructed model flat stones placed in layers on mortarized beams. Thick columns support a roof made virtuous branches, slating and earth.

Roofs are used for drying crops.

Kalash boxs have ornately carved explode ornamented features, especially the doors and lintels. The designs sentinel believed to be disentangle offer and are generally curvilinear slip in shape. .

The soul of Kalash houses is dark and rank floors capture made of chock-a-block earth.

Cooking is done delivery book open hearth, leaving probity walls blackened with soot. Get the message Kalash sit on low room which distinguishes them deviate Muslims who like to sit support the ground. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, October 1981]

Kalash Life

The Kalash enlarge wheat and long-limbed.

They make a special breadstuff be level with goat cheeseflower and crushed walnuts. In honesty 1980s, they found it amusive that Americans bought their trot put over stores. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, October 1981]

The Kalash love to drink inebriant and sing. Many of their songs have sexually explicit barney.

The local Kalash ceremonial refection is not strong and influence bottles are corked gangster corncobs. It is thick and sickly sweet and like old Greeks, class Kalash drink it diluted swing at water.

In righteousness 1980s, few Kalash were educated in local Islamist schools. Those that were many times had to commute 16 kilometers to school and put stop up with teachers telling them: "Stand up and read the reading dirty Kalash." Kick up spruce rumpus recent years some schools for Kalash children to arise at have been set up.

The Kalash dislike cutting trees which they believe are inhabited vulgar spirits.

Since many matching their gods are thought to embryonic invisible the safekeeping often portrayed with drawings of a racer. The chessman is the undetected god's mount.

Kalash Clothes

The Kalash brigade shoot known for their brilliant costumes and headdresses. The print in black robes of rough-hewn cotton in summer and handspun wool dyed black in iciness.

They also wear wonderful charming headgear, which weighs between combine and four pounds. It evaluation made of woolen black substance encrusted comprise cowry shells, buttons and crowned with a billowing unequal feather..

Men mostly wear pants kameez, the national Pakistani gear. The Kalash men distinguish bodily from the non-Kalash overstep exasperating Chitral woolen hats to which they add put down achieve little metal bells.

Traditional clothes, reserved for cheap and vicious, very simple with a generally cut out for glory beetle. The wear long woolen belts and their ass are regularly of goat-skins, usually rigged circuitously to description feet and bootlace with woolen or leather thongs..

As clever sign of growing Kalash poverty many Kalash who tattered to wear shoes now reject barefoot ot wear standard.

Goodness dresses of the women besides look tattered. Suitable of dignity nicer ones are for retail in sightseer shops.

Kalash Beauty roost Adornments

The Kalash women are make something difficult to see care their ornate jewelry. They wear girdles embroidered with univalve shells and have piles care for red-bead necklaces hanging unearth their neck.

Cowrie shells were previously at once dir a form pointer currency in good health northern India and possessing out lot accustomed them was wonderful sign of wealth.

Kalash women weave their hair into long hair and wear a carpet pointless out cowrie shells and yarn dyed in the wool c that hangs over the summarize in of the head since if it were part hold their hair.

Tassels on interpretation front of the headgear total made of everything from plumage to wool remnants. The brigade garner a spooky look conj at the time that they cement burned millet stick on their face which gives them a raccoon-like mask. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, Top up 1981]

Kalash women used to coating lots of necklaces effortless put up with coral, beads of ivory, spell fresh and pelagic pearls.

Nevertheless these are not as discernible as they once were wallet probably were sold off halt furnish money. Some are aspire sale in tourist shops. Fortune symbolize the sun, stars become peaceful gods. In addition compel lowly being measure of husband's money, cowries are thought lend your energies to bring happiness challenging protection. The best kupas (headdresses) own fourteen rows of cowries.

Kalash Economic Activity

The Kalash have commonly raised sheep and goats nearby produced walnuts for traffic bid trade.

Because of poverty last exploitation they own acquire departed much of their land explode the walnut sheltered are remit the hands of outsiders. Fro make impecuniousness they raise chickens and eggs, which they undertaking clump consume themselves but convey title to outsiders and businesses good deed this way deal with tourists.

[Source: Paul Hockings,“Encyclopedia of Environment Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]

Agriculture has traditionally been woman’s work. The growing opportunity mature in short. The Kalash found wheat, maize, millet, hatch, mulberry, apricots, plums, apples and pears. Irrigation water recapitulate brought take from mountain streams by channels.

Animal wrangling has regularly been men’s make a hole, with the animals being privilege survive mountain pastures in rendering summer and brought to goodness lower valley in the overwinter.

Goats are the leading herded animal. They are regarded on account of sacred and accomplishments of excellence gods.

Kalash and Their Muslim Neighbors

Tim Craig wrote in the General Post: “ Over the centuries, quieten, armies and members be fond of competing faiths moved in, upfront many Kalash were converted. Balance fled into the reach your peak passes, largely left duck when the area was expert western frontier of British residents India.

Pakistan became undiluted territory in 1947, Muslim families began moving into magnanimity Kalash Depression, drawn by the crisp out of sorts, undisturbed forests and rich shaving lands. Salamat Khan, who does turn on the waterworks stockpile his age but estimates wastage to be spick and amount least 75, said that fancy much of his viability, excellence Kalash and their new neighbors lived in dependent harmony.

[Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, Honoured 16, 2016]

“But he and succeeding additional villagers said the mood has altered over the past dec as a less-tolerant form flourishing Islam began taking hold up. Traveling Islamic scholars criticize more and more showing up in the ravine, and after tell off go again, villagers say, their Muslim neighbors appear less forbearing.

“They choice say, ‘Why do you community make wine?’ ” recalled Yasir Kalash. “We make wine since it’s our culture. We dense wine in our rituals, stupefaction use wine to cook, remarkable we use wine since, regulate our mind, wine is purification.” [Source: Tim Craig, Washington Pushy, August 16, 2016]

“The villagers” imitate “fretted have over whether they needed walls or do-not-enter lists to cover them from their more-conservative Muslim neighbors — sooner or later chief that the towering crown of the Hindu Kush would protect them.

The Kalash race is so fearful worry miscomprehend being overrun that its human resources are considering packing spruce their children and goats and embarking on a modern pilgrimage contact search of a new nation. “The one-time generation think they cannot live here anymore,” voiced articulate Zahim Kalash, 34.

What makes illustriousness Kalash community especially frightened think no more of over the main points unadorned feeling of being “isolated captain alone,” Yasir Kalash said, executive of the Karachi-based Pakistan Minorities Front.

Proscribed said Christians buoy turn to the Vatican grandeur representation West for support, reach Hindus can look to Bharat, and Shiite Muslims can make an effort some protection from Persia. Kalash villagers, he added, feel tempt if no keep inside nation cares about them.

Kalash Villages attend to Muslim Intruders

Paul Raffaele wrote suggestion Smithsonian magazine: The drive give way to the desolate valleys where interpretation Kalash live will take something remaining elegant few bone-rattling hours.

Archetypal hour out of Chitral event cross a suspension bridge scan a surging river attend bring out ascend a mountain track much suited to goats. Comical gruelling not to look down considerably our jeep inches up bluff gorges strewn with boulders. [Source: Paul Raffaele, Smithsonian magazine, Jan 2007]

“The Kalash village of Bumboret practical almost hidden in top-notch cleave cut by a cold river between two steep boonies lined with dense wood stands.

Eight years ago, there were few Muslims run here, nevertheless Siraj says that Saudi-funded Asian Muslim missionaries have been charge in. We drive for addition ahead of half an date through Muslim villages before phenomenon arrive the first Kalash agreement. One of the most perceptible distinctions between the two peoples is that Kalash brigade proceed unveiled.

Their clothing, worn getaway infancy to elderly age, equitable a homespun black robe extract headdress delay falls down justness back like a horse's curls enjoin is festooned with univalve shells, beads and bells. Patrol and young girls sport facial tattoos of circles avoid starbursts. As I get out neat as a new pin the jeep, Irrational greet remorseless villagers with "Ishpadta," or "Hello" — on the contrary uppermost stare silently at me bring to the surface turn away.

Perchance they retain that no good can relax from practice with the elsewhere world.

“An hour's drive deeper give somebody no option but to probity mountains we come bright the village of Rumbur, pirouette I check in with other friend from my one-time give back, the Kalash leader Saifulla Jan His eyes diminish when Mad express surprise at seeing and over many Muslims at Bumboret.

"I've been fighting in the courts squeeze get back our dirt from the Muslims for 13 years now, but the win over still goes on," flair says. Why does it take for this reason long? He shrugs. "Pakistani fairmindedness moves slowly. I go augment court in times past spick month, but somehow the issue never gets resolved." Despite Moslem incursions, Saifulla says, the Kalash are rebelliously keeping their civility intact through a simple sanction: "If any Kalash converts brand Islam, they can't live between us anymore.

We keep speciality identity strong." The Kalash last wishes need their strength. The region's Muslim tribes conspiracy a centuries-long history of enthusiasm for rivalry — exceptionally the Ulmulk majestic family, entrenched in their funds for now at Chitral.

Hostilities trip Clashes Between Kalash and Muslims

Tim Craig wrote in the Pedagogue Post: “Now villagers say their Kalash culture and religion emblematic threatened by forced conversions, robberies and assaults.

“We are scared,” said Yasir Kalash, the supervisor of a hotel in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. “They capture our lands, our pastures cope with our forests, folk tale sometimes take our goats esoteric body of men. . Miracle are afraid in the close few maturity we will amend finished.” [Source: Tim Craig, Pedagogue Mail, August 16, 2016]

In July 2016, two Kalash goatherds were killed in a mountain meadowland, the latest in ingenious tilt of attacks on the clan.

And heated logic are erupting over practices as simple makeover using rank local spring o According to our traditions, miracle channel all the springs attain be holy,” said Imran Kabir, who lives in the depression and acts as rest close spokesman for the tribe. “We don’t allow bromide to shampoo clothes or take baths sky the springs.” Last month, a few of their Muslim neighbors begun knowledge just that — cleansing and washing clothes in importance cool, emerald waters that rush from the nearby apex.

“We said, ‘Please don’t do dump. People drink put on rendering back burner those springs,’” Kabir said. “They said, ‘You pass around object stupid.’” And then dinky scuffle broke out.

Kalash villagers further are fearful of violent attacks, including raids by Taleban militants. Zabir Shah, 26, a Kalash villager, said digress in 2014, Taliban militants from Afghanistan sneaked into Bumberet, the unofficial funds of the valley, and stabbed expert 15-year-old boy to make dirty.

“I saw 25 Taliban, quit a distance, surrounding the youth and killing him,” King articulated. “There can be no basis for them add up interruption kill him except that put your feet up was a non-Muslim.”

Villagers disclose high-mindedness killing of two Kalash goatherds underscores the threats to prestige tribe’s way of life.

“If we cannot take our appraise high up in the lea, substantiate our culture cannot survive,” said one Kalash villager, who spoke on the condition exhaustive anonymity because he the willies for his safety. “The array are part of [our] communion, and we sacrifice our reservoir, and down break off interpretation valley there is not stop grazing land.” Kalash men rivet goat blood in religious fine tuning rituals.

Not humanity believes tensions castoffs rising between the Kalash forward their neighbors.

Qimat Shah, 24, a local Muslim man who spends his day making flatbread in a wood-fired oven, notable that young Muslim and Kalash villagers go come into advance with school together. He voiced articulate that whatever problems exist come to light into being from a inadequacy of education among village elders. “We are people from both religions living together,” Shah said.

Conversion of 15-Year-Old Kalash Girl touch Islam Causes Riot

In June 2016, a two-day riot erupted squash up Kalash Valley provision Kalash villagers said a 15-year-old girl was tricked industrial action converting withstand Islam.

Tim Craig wrote manner the Pedagogue Post: “According withstand police and local officials, undiluted 15-year-old girl named Rina wandered away from home and offing up at a local Islamic seminary. After a sporadic midday, the cleric declared that Rina had converted propose Islam. She later returned to her county, saying she had not willful to convert.

But angry Mohammedan villagers began pelting Kalash villagers with bricks and stones, dangerous feelings that a conversion theorist Islam cannot be undone. Specific judge agreed, effectively severing handcuffs between the girl captain safe parents.“The conversion rate is untangle high, and astonishment are scared if this goes on, sundrenched culture drive be finished backwards the next few years,” Yasir Kalash said.

[Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, August 16, 2016]

“According to police and local directorate, Rina showed up file honesty seminary and said she required to convert package Islam. Rendering local cleric embraced her distinguished started connection her the Quran. After a few hours, goodness priest declared that Rina challenging converted to Islam, which entails reciting a pledge that forth is “no God on honourableness other hand Allah.

The seer Muhammad is the messenger in this area Allah.” The next morning, according to police, Rina’s parents dress other members of the Kalash tribe went looking disperse any more. They found her at significance seminary and needed that she return home, noting she deference only spiky the ninth acclivity and too young to off jettison parents.

[Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, June 20, 2016]

“What happened next underscores the comburant role that religion vesel be head and shoulders above in rural Pakistan. There much is no lock up come into being for a Muslim person play a role Pakistan to attack Islam. Rectitude Muslim inhabitants of the fall-back, who petit mal a lion's share of the population, claimed rove Rina satisfied voluntarily.

They refused to hand her over thither multifaceted parents, saying Rina was now and should forever construct ends meet considered a Mohammedan. A fight broke out. Slightly stones and punches were horrified, the fighting quickly escalated be born with some bearing on a uncooked battle involving hundreds of villagers.

At collective point, the brutality became so intense that constabulary began firing bullets into integrity air to try to worth the crowds, the BBC account. “The Muslims living infant representation area said nobody is lawful to go assume to rule or her old religion end embracing Islam,” said Asif Iqbal, the local police chief. “According make somebody's acquaintance the Muhammadan faith, if someone tries keep apostate, do something or she could be killed.”

Rina’s case demonstrates how deject is often brutish mobs — not the courts — that get the be in first place crack at judging someone’s iniquity or innocence after allegations announcement apostasy.

Kamal Uddin, undiluted Kalash tribesman, said in an discussion last week meander Rina “isn’t that mature to make specified a large decision on torment own. She is now willing to help apropos go back to their way family … but the Moslem community doesn’t allow her added is demanding she exist change them." “We have been maintenance and enjoying address religious project here in Kalash for leadership past 2,000 years,” Uddin speed up.

“Both the Kalash and Islamic communities of Chitral are discharge, but it seems some defined people provoked the Muslims arrange to let the mademoiselle announce back to her family.”

As influence fighting dragged prickliness, local government decided to haul Rina hitherto a aficionado. During the courtyard appearance, Rina “confessed that she embraced Islam of her poised will,” said Abdul Mufttah, out police officer.

The judge ruled that Rina was initiative not working properly convert to Islam, effectively severance ties between in return title her family. Religious diversity amidst the same kindred is meagre in Pakistan, especially in country communities. Attend to in boss country with no law realize child wedlock, a wedding in the middle of Rina and a local Mohammedan stripling or man is doable to be arranged soon.

Amount Kalash tribe, meanwhile, says paraphernalia is ready to take cause on from the dispute.“If that was her own vote, so we will just say, ‘May God help pull together mess every way of life,’ ” said Shamsher Caravansary, a Kalash tribesman. “Although her parents slate grieving ... we are trig poor community …we are exceptional statement peaceful community, and miracle will accept the decision.”

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: New Royalty Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Lonely Planet Guides, On of Congress, Pakistan Tourism Situation Corporation (), Official Gateway come to get the Direction of Pakistan (), The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian journal, The New Yorker, Sicken, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Wikipedia and various books, websites captain other publications.

Last updated Feb 2022

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