Chelum Jusht

I read an article about the dying civilization of Kailaash, which reminded me of my last visit to Bamboreet Valley in Chitral (where Kailaashis live), People say that they are the offsprings of army of Alexandar the Great. Loads of Tableeghis are almost always there, coaxing people of convert to Islam. Due to these conversions either by consent or social and economic pressures or by marriages, the population of this civilization has reduced to a few thousands now (2000). One has mixed feelings when watching them, on one side they are converting to Islam hence we can't complain and on the other side we are viewing a civilization which is diminishing and on the verge of extinction. Though the female pilot i just forgot the name (Musharaf is a big fan of her ), when i was in Shandoor to view the festival i also had the dubious honor to watch the ageing Commando's MUJRA. (More on it later).

However here are the pictures

Here are some more. Chelum Jasht is one of their festivals in which they dance. Kailaashis have different customs.











Definetly a place to visit. Berer, Bamburit and Rumbur..

A very good and interesting thread Zeenix and thanks for sharing the pictures.

You should watch the Michael Palin documentary when he went to same area.

I can't find the whole episode but here is a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EScaJj76Tmo

I would love to visit the northern areas one day.

So what language do these people speak, and what religion did they used to follow previously?

Lakshan Bibi... what about her?



They speak a language called Kalasha which is quite different to Chitral's main language of Khowar, which is in turn very different to anywhere else in Pakistan. The Norwegian Linguist Georg Morgenstierne wrote that Chitral is one of the greatest linguistic diversity in the world. Although Khowar is the predominant language of Chitral, more than ten other languages are spoken here. These include Khowar, Kalasha, Palula, Dameli, Gawar-Bati, Nuristani, Yidgha, Burushaski, Gujar, Wakhi, Kyrgyz, Persian and Pashto.

The Kalash have a very paganistic way of life. I don't think there is a name for the religion that they follow. Their customs and beliefs are quite different to anywhere else in the world.

Being a Chitrali myself, I'm surprised at the lack of attention the rest of the valley gets. It's only the Kalash sides (and Shandur) that get any attention at all. I guess it can be attributed to the lack of hotels in the region and probably tourism development, etc.

Yes Lakhshan Bibi, i meant that some people have rose to prominence from Kalaash. Last year when i visited shandoor she had a seat right next to me. However Musharaf who was sitting a row above me, asked her to come up and sit next to him.