Hinduism: Details about 'Kalasha'
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home
|
The Kalasha, also known as the Kalash, are an ethnic group that lives in the Hindu Kush region of Pakistan. They are an ancient Dardic people who speak the Kalasha language. Seemingly out of place in Central Asia, they are known to have light skin, eyes, and hair, similar to what one would find in Southern Europe. Many Kalash allege that they are the direct descendants of either Greek settlers, Alexander the Great's army, or even Alexander himself. Their claims are questionable, as there is proof of their existence before Alexander's invasion of the Persian Empire. One theory suggests that similarities in the culture of the Kalash and Greco-Macedonian peoples stem from the pre-Indo-European expansion.
CustomsTheir unique culture and belief system differs drastically from the various ethnic groups surrounding them. The Kalasha believe in various deities Mahadeo (Khodai, the Khowar word for God is also used), and worship other deities that offer protection to different aspects of life (such as Jeshtak, who represents family, pregnant mothers, and marriage). It is suggested that they are based on twelve Olympian gods of Ancient Greece. Nature plays a highly significant and spiritual role in their daily life. As part of their religious tradition, sacrifices are offered and festivals held to give thanks for the abundant resources of their three valleys. Presently, these self-sufficient farmers are moving towards a cash-based economy whereas previously wealth was measured in livestock and crops. They celebrate the Joshi (spring) festival at the end of May each year. Because they had no calendars or watches until recently, they gauged the arrival of the festival by the sun. The first day of Joshi is "Milk Day", on which the Kalasha offer libations of milk that has been saved for ten days prior to the festival. Kalash women usually wear long black robes, often embroidered with cowrie shells. For this reason, they are known in Chitral as "The Black Kafirs". Men have adopted the Pakistani salwar kameez, while children wear small versions of adult clothing after the age of four. In contrast to the surrounding Pakistani culture, Kalasha do not in general separate males and females or frown on contact between the sexes. However, menstruating girls and women are sent to live in the "bashaleni", the village menstrual building, during their periods, until they regain their "purity". They are also required to give birth in the bashaleni. There is also a ritual restoring "purity" to a woman after childbirth which must be performed before a woman can return to her husband. The husband is an active participant in this ritual. Kalasha women breastfeed in public. This, and their interaction with males in public, have created a false impression among some that the Kalasha culture is sexually promiscuous. HistoryThe Kalash people have been ruled by the Mehtar of Chitral since the 1700s and have enjoyed a cordial relationship with the major ethnic group of Chitral, the Kho who are Sunni and Ismaili Muslims. The multi-ethnic and multi-religious State of Chitral ensured that the Kalash were able to live in peace and harmony and practice their culture and religion. The Nuristani, their cousins in the region of Kafiristan east of the border, were invaded in the 1890s and forced to convert to Islam by Amir Abdur-Rahman of Afghanistan and their land was renamed Nuristan . Prior to that event, the people of Kafiristan had paid tribute to the Mehtar of Chitral and accepted his suizerainity. This came to an end with the Durand Agreement when Kafiristan fell under the Afghan sphere of Influence. Recently, the Kalasha have been able to stop their demographic and cultural spiral towards extinction and have, for the past 30 years, been on the rebound. Increased international awareness, a more tolerant government, and monetary assistance has allowed them to continue their way of life. Location, climate, & geographyLocated in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, the Kalash people live in three isolated mountain valleys: Bumboret, Rumbur, and Birir. People trying to enter the valleys will be forced to pay a toll to the Pakistani government, which they claim will be used to preserve and care for the Kalash people and their culture. Coordinates: The region is extremely fertile, covering the mountainside in rich oak forests and allowing for intensive agriculture, despite the fact that most of the work is done not by machinery, but by hand. The powerful and dangerous rivers that flow through the valleys have been harnessed to power grinding mills and to water the farm fields through the use of ingenious irrigation channels. Wheat, maize, grapes (generally used for wine), apples, and walnuts are among the many foodstuffs grown in the area, along with surplus fodder used for feeding the livestock. The climate is typical of high elevation regions without large bodies of water to regulate the temperature. The summers are mild and agreeable with average maximum temperatures between 23° and 27°C (73° - 81°F). Winters, on the other hand, can be very cold, with average minimum temperatures between 2° and 1°C (36° - 34°F). The average yearly percipitation is 700 to 800mm (28 - 32 inches). See alsoReferences
Online References
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||