Chitral / Kalasha

Northern Pakistan - Part 2
Shandur pass (3700m). The border between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
slide Shandur pass Gilgit Baltistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Mosque, Chitral bazar. Tirich Mir in the background (7708m).
slide Chitral Mosque Tirich Mir
Chitral bazar.
slide Chitral
Tea stall. Chitral Bazar.
slide Chitral tea
Tea stall. Chitral Bazar.
slide Chitral tea
Tea stall. Chitral Bazar.
slide Chitral tea
Tea stall. Chitral Bazar.
slide Chitral tea
Worker and shoe repairman, Chitral bazar.
slide shoe repairman Chitral
A Kalasha girl. Her mother is sewing a new kalash dress.
The Kalash (or Kalasha) people are only around 4100 individuals. They live in 3 isolated valleys in the far north-eastern part of Pakistan (a few kilometers from the Afghan border). The valleys are called Bumburet, Rambur and Birir.
slide Kalash Kalasha Chitral Bumboret
A Kalasha girl in her home.
In each valley the Kalash live in small villages. Each village is associated with one of many clans. A woman cannot marry a man from the same clan (exogamy).
slide Kalash Kalasha Chitral Bumboret
A Kalasha girl. Her mother is working in the background.
The Kalash people have a unique culture that differs greatly from their Muslim neighbors. They speak a Dardic language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language group.
kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha girl and her mother.
The Kalash are a non-Muslim ethnic group. Their religion has similarities to older forms of Hinduism. Despite being a very small minority community, surrounded by Muslims on all sides, they are still able to sustain their religion and culture.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha woman working with her son in the background.
The forefathers of the Kalasha may have migrated from the nearby Nuristan province in Afghanistan. Some speculate that they may be descendants from the soldiers of Alexander the Great.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalsha man is chatting with his neighbors.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha man outside his home.
slide chitral kalash kalasha bumboret
A young Kalasha girl.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Two Kalasha girls.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha lady standing in the door to her home.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Making bread.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Young Kalasha girls weaving.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Bringing the goats back home in the evening.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret goat
Feeding the family goats in the morning.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret goat
Helping baby goat to mothers milk.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret goat milk
Helping out with the goats in the evening.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Riding a bicycle on a Sunday morning.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret bicycle playing
Children playing.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret playing
A Young Kalasha girl.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha girl and her little sister.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Two Kalasha girls.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha lady and the family kitchen.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Kalasha lady in a shop.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Kalasha girl. Grandmother working in the background.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
It is early morning and the mother is preparing breakfast for the family. It is soon time to go to school for the children.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A small Kalasha girl with her mother working and her brother in the background.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
Kalasha girls. Ready for school.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha girl preparing to go to school.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha girl preparing to go to school.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret
A Kalasha girl preparing to go to school.
slide kalash kalasha chitral bumboret

Jørgen Johanson Archive

Chitral / Kalasha