Religion:

Kalash religion share many traits of myths, society, echoes according to Sanskrit language but it is different than the religion’s traditions deployed in India. This religion is more like their neighbors of Nuristan but totally different than other communities around them. These people belong to the northeast region of Afghanistan.

Many writers of different countries described this religion in different ways. Professor Barbara A. West from University of Rochester said in “Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania”:

“Religion is a form of Hinduism that recognizes many gods and spirits.” that “Given their Indo-Aryan language, the religion of the Kalasha is much more closely aligned to the Hinduism of their Indian neighbors”

E.J. Michael Witzel in his book

“The Origins of the World’s Mythologies”

called this valley

“Pre-Hindu Kalash”

The journalist Frud Bezhan unites all of these perceptions, unfolding the religion followed by the Kalash as being

“a form of ancient Hinduism infused with old pagan and animist beliefs.”

Rituals:

This Isolated region of Kalash is strongly related to the Pre-Islamic Nuristan due to their culture, values, and unique festivals. Richard Strand said about this region after spending three decades in these valleys that:

“Before their conversion to Islam, the Nuristan’s practiced a form of ancient Hinduism. Infused with accretions developed locally. They acknowledged a number of human-like deities who lived in the unseen Deity World. “

Their also a general belief in these mountains about fairies which are now referred to as “Peri” in Urdu or Persian. But still called Apsaras in some regions and they believed to be helping the hunters and killing the enemies. Harvard professor Michael Witzel summarizes the faith of Kalash people:

“In myth, it is notably the role of Indra, his rainbow and his eagle who is shot at, the killing of his father, the killing of the snake or of a demon with many heads, and the central myth of releasing the Sun from an enclosure. Importantly, the division between two groups of deities (Devalog) and their intermarriage has been preserved, and this dichotomy is still re-enacted in rituals and festivals, especially the Chaumos. Ritual still is Among the Kalash it is basically, though not always, temple-less, involving fire, sacred wood, three circumambulations. Some features already have their Vedic, and no longer their Central Asian form.”

These are believed which are famous in these mountains from decades but now due to the arrival of Islamic culture these people are turning towards Islam. Kalash culture religion and is also highly influenced by Islamic Values and Ideology. They believe in one Supreme God it is one example of influence.

If you have more to add in this article please comment and also like & share with others this historic era of Pakistan.

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Kalash Woman

Kalash culture is on the verge of extinction. Woman folk is hardworking but under immense pressure due to poverty and diseases. They are hardworking and order both house and fields. This kalsha woman was mending family clothes while keeping her child in lap.

The post A Page from the Life of Kalash Woman in Chitral Pakistan. appeared first on Razaq Vance Art Photography .

Kalash People And Dangers Of Extinction:

Bells of extinction are ringing for the Kalash culture. In the valleys of kalasha in Chitral district of KPK province of Pakistan. These valleys are in a remote area of Pakistan. Its boundaries are connected with Afghanistan. These valleys are popular by the name of “Kafiristan” (the land of the infidels) among the masses.

The area of Afghanistan which is connected is known as “Nuristan” (the land of light). These valleys have a unique culture which is centuries old and still persist with all of its elements. Their religion is different from any other in the world and is a form of animism which is perhaps the most primitive form of faith. Now, these people are facing a threat to their existence as the approach in the area has become easy due to better roads and powerful vehicles.

Religious intolerance which is in rising generally in this region of the world is at climax here. Different religious adventurers from the Muslim and Christian faith are trying to convert these people in their way. Tourism has done no better but worst for the area and destroyed the delicate balance established in centuries.

Intruders have occupied the land of locals for making hotels and shopping areas and disturbed the overall fabric of the area. These people are waiting for someone powerful enough to protect them from the immense threat of extinction. Less than three thousands of Kalash are left and their gene pool is depleting at an alarming speed.

Culture of Kalash Valleys:

Kalasha Desh (the 3 Kalash valleys) is formed of 2 distinct cultural areas, the valleys of Rumbur and Bumburet forming one, and Birir depression the other, Birir valley being a lot of ancient of the 2. Kalash mythology and lore have been compared to it of ancient Balkan state, however, they’re abundant nearer to Indo-Iranian traditions. The Kalash have fascinated anthropologists because of their distinctive culture compared to the remainder in this region.
The Kalasha language, conjointly called Kalasha-mun, may be a member of the Dardic group of the Indo-Aryan languages. Its nearest relative is that the close Dardic language. Kalasha was once spoken over a bigger space in south Chitral District, however, it’s currently largely confined to the western aspect valleys having lost ground to Dardic.

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