Friday, July 30, 2010

The old-dates Method of Grinding the Grains in Kalasha Valleys

This is the cyber era-we are observing-the world has been changed at extent level, and it is the era of machines. We have modern machines and instruments in our lives. These machines have made our lives easier compare to our ancestors.
But, in this cyber era, there is a community, living in northern Pakistan, living in ‘back dates’. They have their indigenous culture & way of life. This community is the Kalasha of Hindu Kush Range; the Kalasha people are exercising very old way of life. They still have barter system alive with them.
Even today they people (the Kalasha people) grind their grains with Stone Grinding Mills on the banks of streams. The man, history told, is being used millstone since Neolithic Era, so the Kalasha are still using millstone powered by water stream under it.

I am, here, sharing two images of millstone/stone grinding mill/water mill (panchakki in Urdu) and a video clip.


Stone Grinding Mill (Image I)



Stone Grinding Mill (Image II)



Stone Grinding Mill (Video Clip)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Kalasha Web Directory

As we know that the Kalasha tribe is an endangered tribe, it is need of hour to promote the particular society. But here I would love to preserve the Kalasha culture and society on-line. I would love to prepare Web Directory of Kalasha Tribe; if you have a good source please let me know I will post it with your name.
Drop an email at: abufeeman@gmail.com

  • http://kalashapeople.org/, this site will give a look about the Kalasha society like culture, education, festivals etc., and some new updates.

  • The given site can make you known about the Kalasha culture, devalok (pantheon), concept about fairies, festivals and their schedule, birth-marriage and death rituals, burial rituals and some problems regarding the particular tribe. This is the good source to understand the Kalasha music. http://www.site-shara.net/_kalasha/eflm-kalasha.html

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Kalasha Dance; The Dance to Please gods (Video)

The Kalasha people of Pakistan are fond of dance; the dance is somehow their religious ritual as well as cultural trait.
They just seek chances of dancing and singing. They have four major festivals in a year: Joshi (May), Uchaw (August), Poh/Pul (September) and Chaumas (December). In all these festival they offer sacrifices, dance and sing songs.

The posted dance was recorded during my field research in Rumbor Valley in August, 2007.

A Kalasha Baby (With centuries ago tradition)



This picture is of a Kalasha baby, the Kalasha tribe is a pagan tribe of Pakistan; the sole pagan tribe living in Pakistan. Once the population of the Kalasha tribe was about 10,000 in 1950's but now their population is just about 4000. It is an endangered tribe, to be vanquished.
In three Kalasha Valleys (Bumboret, Rumbor & Birir) you may observed centuries old traditions. The people still are observing their indigenous culture. The Kalasha boys are kept naked for two years and then they are dressed on kameez (shirt) up to the age of five years. And after five years a ritual is done and all mamagans (uncles) gathered and then boy baby is given a shalwar (pants) to wear. But in the case of girl, she is dressed on full dress but not Susut; the head-gear which is given her to at the age of five and then she is considered the member of the Kalasha tribe.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Introduction to Kalasha Tribe of Pakistan

Introduction to Kalasha Tribe of Pakistan

One of the major attractions for the tourists, historians, sociologists and anthropologists, professional photographers and archeologists of the world, is the Kalash valleys (Chitral district) in the North-West part of Pakistan. Kalash valleys, which have earned world fame because of their specific culture, are the home of Kafir Kalash or wearers of the black robes, a primitive pagan tribe. The Kalash people live in the three sub-valleys of Kalash; Bumboret, Rumbor and Birir. The Kalasha are ancient tribe of Pakistan and they have their own way of life, their own religion, language, rituals and their own identity. This part of Pakistan is considered to be a well preserved ethnic and cultural museum. Owing to this value, Kalasha culture has been listed by UNESCO for consideration as World Heritage Site. The Kalasha culture is unique as well as amazing one, from all over the world tourist come here to see their natural beauty and unique culture and each year many historians, anthropologists and photographers from all over the world focus the Kalasha society.

The Kalasha tribe is observing the great demographic change; their population is under threats for many years. Their population was 10,000 in 1959 showed 63% decrease per annum due to the pressure of people from the urban centers of the country, shrinking it to 3700 souls in 2009.

The Kalasha society is observing cultural change, that is drastic cultural and social change.

The cultural change affected at large scale:

  • Family breakup and disturb the family system
  • Permanent loss of rituals
  • Loss in cultural participation in daily practices
  • Loss in cultural participation in communal events