KALASH
The valley of
Colors & festivals

Location
Kalash are indigenous people who lives in the Chitral
District of Khyber Pakhtunkhua. Kalash people
are mostly found in “Rumbur”, “Bumburet” and “Birir”.

History
Kalash people are Hellenic descendants of the
armies of the Alexander the great. They have
sustained their ancient culture and traditions since
the 4th century B.C.

Religion
The Kalash are often referred to as
'polytheist', most Kalash claim that
they are monotheist, worshiping one
creator god, ‘Dezau‘.
They are also known as “The Black
Kafirs”.

Festivals
The Kalash People celebrate three main festivals in
year.
Joshi: celebrated in May to welcome the spring.
Uchaw: celebrated in august to ensure good crops and
wheat.
Chaumos: Observed in December for more than two
weeks, it is the grand festival and celebrated to welcome the
new year.

The Kalash people are famous for their festivals.
There are much dancing, Singing and Music. Drum is the only instrument
They use during their festivals.

Traditional Dress
Kalash people have a unique and colorful dress that
serves as the most obvious symbol of identity for the
Kalash community,
Their women usually wear long black robes, often
embroidered with cowrie shells. For this reason, they
are known in Chitral as
“The Black Kafirs”

They also wear beautiful head dress made from
shells, buttons and twinkling bells. Its weight is about four
pounds and their burden is carried out joyfully.

Nature in the valley
Kalash valley is lush green with chilled water
streams, valley is full of apple and apricot trees, but
their main crop is maze, women harvest the maze
crop with local songs.

Funeral Rituals
Kalash people leave their dead on a wooden coffin
exposed to the weather and let it rot. After one year
a wooden statue is placed near the coffin in a
ceremony to project the bravery of the dead man.

Thank You
Maliha kazi