Kalasha Valleys

Kalash
وادی کالاش‬
Valley
The three remote valleys are home to the animist Kalash people
Kalash
وادی کالاش‬
Kalash Valley
Coordinates: 35°42′2″N 71°41′29″E / 35.70056°N 71.69139°E / 35.70056; 71.69139Coordinates: 35°42′2″N 71°41′29″E / 35.70056°N 71.69139°E / 35.70056; 71.69139
Country Pakistan
Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
District Chitral District
Area
 • Total 456.58 km2 (176.29 sq mi)
Elevation 1,128 m (3,701 ft)
Population (2003)
 • Total 9,000
 • Density 20/km2 (51/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+5 (PST)

The Kalasha Valleys (Kalasha-mondr: Kaĺaśa Desh; Urdu: وادی کالاش‬‎) are valleys in Chitral District in northern Pakistan. The valleys are surrounded by the Hindu Kush mountain range. The inhabitants of the valley are the Kalash people, who have a unique culture, language and follow a form of ancient Hinduism.[1] As such, the Kalasha Valleys are a source of attraction for Pakistani as well as International tourists. There are three main valleys.[2][3][4] The largest and most populous valley is Bumburet (Mumuret), reached by a road from Ayun in the Kunar Valley. Rumbur and Acholgah are side valleys north of Bumburet. The third valley, Biriu (Birir), is s side valley of the Kunar Valley south of Bumburet.

Kalash People

The Kalasha Valleys

Kalash people are the smallest religious as well as the ethnic minority of Pakistan. Their customs and traditions are contradictory to the Islamic and Pakistani culture. The Kalash religion is polytheist faith and the people offer sacrifices for their gods. Their culture is interlinked with their religion and based upon several festivals and celebrations. The people generally do not intermarry or cohabit regions with local Muslims but neither are they hostile towards them. The people are under legal and constitutional protection of the State of Pakistan as a scheduled tribe.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Minahan, James B. (10 February 2014). Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 205. ISBN 9781610690188. Living in the high mountain valleys, the Nuristani retained their ancient culture and their religion, a form of ancient Hinduism with many customs and rituals developed locally. Certain deities were revered only by one tribe or community, but one deity was universally worshipped by all Nuristani as the Creator, the Hindu god Yama Raja, called imr'o or imra by the Nuristani tribes.
  2. ↑ "The Kalasha Valleys". Kalasha Heritage Conservation. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.tourism.gov.pk/kalash_valley_nothern_areas.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.press.umich.edu/pdf/0472097830-02.pdf
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