When we don’t personally visit a certain place and observe a culture, it’s quite possible that we might be having certain misperceptions regarding that place or culture. Rumors, propaganda and unauthentic sources could mislead us. Last day, a person from Baluchistan, while discussing the upcoming Chilem Josht Festival of Kalash, said, “I have heard that Kalash women sleep with tourists. So, don’t they get infected with HIV AIDS?” He was discussing that on a public social media forum (event). When no one answered, he again repeated the question. So here I’m sharing few things that we misperceive about Kalash of Chitral Valley which I’m sharing based on authentic sources as well as my personal interactions with people of Bumburate and Rumbor valleys of Chitral. The misperceptions are italicized for the reader.
- Kalash women invite tourists for sex. No. No, Kalash Women don’t sleep with every tourist who pokes into their houses. They are NOT sex-hungry. Nor you will easily find professional prostitutes in the valley who can be found in big cities of Pakistan like Lahore and Islamabad (sorry to say).
- Kalash people are always drunk. No dear. They drink homemade alcohol and grape wine BUT they are NOT drunk 24/7.
- All Kalash are non-muslims (Kafirs). No. All are NOT. “Kalash” only refers to the minority tribe or race of the people who reside in the three villages of Rumbur, Bumburate and Brir in the South-West of Chitral. Some of them are now Muslims and still a part of Kalash community.
- The people of Chitral are Kalash. Nope! All Chitralies are NOT Kalash by race or tribe. Similarly, all Kalash are NOT “Khow” by race or tribe (Khow is the largest segment of population of Chitral with respect to ethnicity).
- Kalash women don’t take bath. Wrong! They do take baths. However, during certain occasions they are not supposed to take bath as a custom, ritual or religious obligation. For example a Kalash widow doesn’t take bath for a few weeks and mourns her husband’s death.
- Kalash don’t believe in God. False. They do believe in God or creator. However, they have few gods and goddesses as well such as Grimon, Mahadev etc.
Not everyone who has not been to Kalash Valley holds these misperceptions but those who do, should better read some ethnographic piece, travel to the valley themselves or meet the people of the area somewhere and enlighten themselves.
Cheers to the upcoming Chilem Josht Festival of Kalash (May 14-16) !
