Kalaşi – small Dard people, inhabiting the three valleys of the right tributaries of the river Chitral (Kunar) in the mountains south of the Hindu Kush in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan). This unique people, who still profess pagan religion, although they are surrounded on all sides by neighbors, professing Islam.
Conversion to Islam leads to the rupture of traditional ties, says one of the elders kalashskih Saifullah Jan: "If somebody from Kalash refers to Islam, they can no longer live among us ". Kalash-Muslims look with envy at kalashskie pagan dancing and merry celebrations. Currently pagan religion, attracts the attention of many European tourists, is protected by the Pakistani government, fearful of fading tourism industry in the case of the final "triumph of Islam".
Their beliefs are based on the confrontation of holiness and uncleanness. Highest holiness have mountains, mountain pastures, where the gods live and graze "their cattle" - wild goats. Holidays are also altars and goat barn. Unclean are Muslim lands. Impurity is also inherent in a woman, especially in times of menstruation and childbirth. Desecration brings everything, associated with death.
(Based on materials from Wikipedia).
In mid-December, during the winter solstice (for about 10 days) in the valleys Rumbur, Bumboret and Birir, held prazdenstvo. In Birir festival accompanied by musical instrument, elsewhere all performed a cappella.
Men bake bread in the form of goats, and the women sing in the name of a demigod Balomeyna, который, pass through the valley, left for four days, to enjoy the festival and gather worshipers, to take them to the creator. During the festival, a lot of goats sacrificed. You can buy a goat for their own offerings.
Keep in mind, The festival closed for Muslims. To enter into the valley, you need to fill out a special registration form. It can be obtained from the Chief of Police Chitral.
Photos: flickr – Humanity Photo Awards (HPA2013).
Официальный сайт: www.tourism.gov.pk
