FESTIVALS DES KALASH

The Kalash people's lives are closely linked to nature. The arrival of each season is celebrated by a large festival, whose dates are fixed according to the sun. These are days dedicated to dancing, singing, music, different rituals, and during which we do not deprive ourselves of drinking local wine or tara (a kind of apricot brandy). Polytheists, the Kalash worship a pantheon of gods and goddesses. The two most important are Jestak, a female spirit that protects houses and their inhabitants, and Mahandeo, a male spirit that protects the valley, nature and cultures.

The Chomos festival, which marks the end of work in the fields, is the most important of all. It is celebrated at the time of the winter solstice and lasts about two weeks. It is a festival dedicated to the god Balaumain, to the living and the dead, where goats are sacrificed and people pray for crops and animals, while villages, communities and valleys are "purified" for the coming year. The Kalash usually gather in the houses, where they drink the local wine and dance around a fire until late at night.

Spring is celebrated during the Joshi Festival. It takes place in mid-May and lasts four days. The Kalash are celebrating the beginning of a season they hope will be successful. The first day is "Milk Day", where people move from house to house dancing and singing to announce their arrival. They are then offered milk that has been kept aside for ten days. The Kalash also gather in spaces dedicated to celebrations. The women dress in their most beautiful outfits, finely embroidered dresses and hats, sing and dance to the rhythms of the drums. The older ones tell the stories of yesteryear.

The Uchal Festival is celebrated in August. The Kalash dance and sing to thank the nature of the wheat and barley crops. We enjoy cheese, corn bread and buttermilk.

The Phool Festival takes place between the end of September and mid-October, depending on the maturity of the fruit and crops. It marks autumn and celebrates the harvest of grapes and nuts, as well as the return of livestock from summer pastures. Three days are dedicated to dancing and singing and then the harvest begins. This festival is only held in the Birir Valley.