Kalasha Valleys

The Kalasha Valleys (Kalasha-mondr: Kaĺaśa Desh; Urdu: وادی کیلاش) 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 Pakistanis 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 is a side valley north of Bumburet. The third valley, Biriu (Birir), is a side valley of the Kunar Valley south of Bumburet.

Kalash
وادی کیلاش
Valley
The three remote valleys are home to the animist Kalash people
Kalash
وادی کیلاش
Kalash Valley
Coordinates: 35°42′2″N 71°41′29″E
CountryPakistan
ProvinceKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
DistrictChitral District
Area
 • Total456.58 km2 (176.29 sq mi)
Elevation
1,670 m (5,480 ft)
Population
 (2003)
 • Total9,000
 • Density20/km2 (51/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)

Kalash people
Main article: Kalash people
The Kalasha Valleys

The Kalash people are a small religious and ethnic minority of Pakistan. The Kalash religion is polytheist faith similar to ancient forms of Hinduism and the people offer sacrifices for their gods. Their culture is interlinked with their religion and includes several unique 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.

  • Typical homes in the Kalasha Valleys
  • A school in the Kalasha Valleys
  • A Kalasha woman

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. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. 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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