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35°44′09″N 71°46′04″E / 35.73583°N 71.76778°E / 35.73583; 71.76778

Kalasha of Chitral

Regions with significant populations
Pakistan:    3,000 - 6,000
Languages
Kalasha-mun
Religion
Polytheism, Islam
Related ethnic groups
• Indo-Iranians   • Dard people     • Khowar     • Kohistani     • Kunar people   • Nuristani people     • Kom     • Kata     • Kalasha of Nuristan   • Greeks

The Kalasha of Chitral or simply Kalasha, are an ethnic group that lives in the Hindu Kush region of Pakistan. Their neighbors, the Nuristani call them Kasivo. The Kalasha of Chitral are probably an ancient Dard people who speak the Kalasha-mun 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 claim that they are the direct descendants of either Greek settlers, Alexander the Great's army, or even Alexander himself. The claims are questionable, as there is evidence of their existence before Alexander's invasion of the Persian Empire. The DNA evidence has also proven that they do not have Greek haplogroups. One theory suggests that similarities in the culture of the Kalasha and Greek people stem from the expansion of Proto-Indo-Europeans.

It is important to note that there is no current connection between the Kalasha of Chitral and the Kalasha of Nuristan (former Kafiristan Kalasha). These two populations descend from different branches of the Indo-Iranians, a division that goes back some 5,000 years. According to linguist Richard Strand, a professional in this area, the people of Chitral apparently adopted the name of the former Kafiristan Kalasha, who at some unknown time extended their influence into Chitral. A reference for this assumption could be the names kâsv'o respectively kâsi'o, used by the neighboring Nuristani Kata and Kom for the Kalasha of Chitral. From these the earlier name kâs'ivo (instead Kalasha) could be derived.

There is still controversy over what defines the ethnic characteristics of the Kalasha. The Pakistani government estimates that there are only 2,550 people who continue to worship their polytheistic gods, while many thousands more have converted to Islam (whether genuinely or for economic and social gain), yet still live within the Kalasha villages and maintain their language.

Customs

Although there are heavy Kafiristani (today known as Nuristani) influences in the language, religion and ethnicity of the Chitral Kalasha, their unique culture and belief system differs drastically from the various ethnic groups surrounding them. The Kalasha of Chitral 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 the Proto-Indo-European religion, similar to the 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, which they gauged by the movement of the sun. The first day of Joshi is "Milk Day", on which the Kalasha offer libations of milk that have been saved for ten days prior to the festival. Kalasha 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, the Kalasha of Chitral 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. Although some marriages are arranged by families, Kalash boys and girls can also propose and arrange their own marriages. This, and the fact that females freely interact with males in public, have created a false impression among some that the Kalasha culture is sexually promiscuous.

History

The Kalasha of Chitral 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 neighbors in the region of former 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 suzerainty. 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.

Nevertheless the pressure of radical Muslim organizations increases more and more. An example for this is the closely to the Taliban associated radical Islamic Tablighi Jamaat movement, which is responsible for numerous assault over the Kalasha.

Location, climate and geography

Located in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, the Kalasha people live in three isolated mountain valleys: Bumboret, Rumbur, and Birir. 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 precipitation is 700 to 800mm (28 - 32 inches).

Genetics

As mentioned above, the Kalasha of Chitral have unique physical characteristics that are not common in Central and Southern Asia. Like any other ethnic group the Kalasha has a large degree of diversity within its own population, running the gambit from brunette Mediterranean to blond Nordic. Relying on local report, many scientists sought to explain this phenomenon by attributing their appearance to the migration of European peoples, specifically Greeks, to the Hindu Kush following the invasion by Alexander the Great. However, recent genetic testing among the Kalash population has shown that they are, in fact, a distinct population with only minor contributions from outside peoples.

The Greek contribution to the Kalasha is somewhat of a mystery. The DNA evidence has also proven that they do not have Greek haplogroups. Recent analysis of the y-chromosome shows that the Greek admixture could be as high as 20-40%, but considering that the local population contains no haplogroup 21 the findings have been chalked up as genetic drift. On the basis of Y chromosome allele frequency, researchers describe the possibility of Greek lineage among the kalasha as unclear . Surprisingly, mtDNA research has shown that there is no South or East Asian genetic mtDNA influence within the Kalasha. This is in stark contrast to some of their closest Indo-European neighbors.

Tourism

Tourism now makes up a large portion of the economic activities of the Chitral Kalasha. Before departing to the valleys one must first register one's name at the town of Chitral. People attempting to enter the valleys have to pay a toll to the Pakistani government, which they claim will be used to preserve and care for the Kalasha people and their culture.

Travellers should refrain from interfering with or patronizing the locals. The villages are more heavily visited by tourists (possibly due to the "Palin effect" when Michael Palin visited in 2004 as part of his Himalaya series, in which he states this may happen) than ever before and the Kalasha people may not enjoy getting their picture taken. Holy festivals are very serious to them and joining in or gawking at their practices is considered very rude. Also, because they are surrounded by Muslim peoples on all sides, pressure to convert to Islam has been strong. Preaching any religion is considered to be in bad taste.

See also

• Kalasha-mun language
• Hindukush Kafir people
• Hindukush Black-Robed Kafir people
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
• Indo-Greek Kingdom

Notes and references

1. http://dienekes.blogspot.com/2006/10/greek-origins-of-some-pathans-but-not.html Greek origins of some Pathans but not other Pakistanis
2. National Database and Registration Authority
3. http://www.gowanusbooks.com/kafirs.htm Ethnic Cleansing of the Kafirs in Pakistan
4. http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/library/parkp99a.htm Agricultre and livestock information
5. http://www.khyberwatch.com/kalash/kalashpic1.htm Climate information
6. http://dienekes.blogspot.com/2006/10/greek-origins-of-some-pathans-but-not.html Greek origins of some Pathans but not other Pakistanis
7. #Raheel Qamar, Qasim Ayub, Aisha Mohyuddin, Agnar Helgason, Kehkashan Mazhar, Atika Mansoor, Tatiana Zerja, Chris Tyler-Smith, and S. Qasim Mehdi, "Y-Chromosomal DNA Variation in Pakistan," American Journal of Human Genetics 70(5):1107–1124, 2002 May.
8. Investigation of the Greek ancestry of northern Pakistani ethnic groups using Y chromosomal DNA variation
9. Lluis Quintana-Murci et al., "Where West Meets East: The Complex mtDNA Landscape of the Southwest and Central Asian Corridor," American Journal of Human Genetics 74(5): 827–845, 2004 May. PDF
10. http://www.camat.org.pk/link.b.php?goto=kalash

Further reading

1. Decker, Kendall D. (1992) Languages of Chitral ISBN 969-8023-15-1 http://www.ethnologue.com/show_work.asp?id=32906
2. Morgenstierne, Georg (1926) Report on a Linguistic Mission to Afghanistan. Instituttet for Sammenlignende Kulturforskning, Serie C I-2. Oslo.
3. Khowar English Dictionary (by Mohammad Ismail Sloan, 1981) ISBN 0-923891-15-3 published in Pakistan, reprinted in 2006
4. Debra Denker, "Pakistan's Kalash People", National Geographic, pp. 458-473, 1981 October.
5. Sir George Scott Robertson, The Kafirs of The Hindu-Kush, London: Lawrence & Bullen Ltd., 1896.

External links

• Kalash Valleys A plethora of high quality pictures of the Kalash people and their homeland.
• Pakistan tourism government page
• The lost tribe of Alexander the Great
• The Khalash and Alexander the Great
• KALASH: THE DESCENDANTS OF ALEXANDER'S SOLDIERS
• Kalasha People Online A blog used by Kalasha and their New Alphabet to write Kalashamondr (Kalasha language)
• Reiko and Jun's Japanese Kalash Page

• Ethnic groups in Pakistan
• Indigenous peoples of South Asia