Kalash festival lights up spring celebrations

Chilam Jusht festival celebrated with music, dance and cultural rituals

RAWALPINDI:

Residents of the Kalash valleys are celebrating their traditional religious and cultural festival "Chilam Jusht" with enthusiasm and festivity.

While only a few Kalash families live in Punjab, a larger number of business families are settled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi. Three small Kalash families residing in Rawalpindi also celebrated the Chilam Jusht cultural festival enthusiastically.

The Chilam Jusht festival, also known as Chilam Jusht or Chilim Josh, is celebrated by the Kalash community living in the Kalasha valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and marks the arrival of spring. The festival is observed annually from May 13 to 16.

During the celebrations, Kalash women, girls and children wear colourful traditional dresses and jewellery, sing songs and perform cultural dances. The Kalash people invoke their deity Goshidai and pray for their livestock. The festival is also associated with young people searching for marriage partners.

Festival activities include singing and dancing, with women wearing new traditional clothes and welcoming spring through community celebrations. The Kalash valleys are located in the Hindu Kush mountains and include the three main valleys of Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir.

The word "Kalash" is derived from Sanskrit and means "crystal" or "snow peak". Their well-known festivals include Chilim Jusht, Uchal and Chaumos, reflecting their colourful culture and ancient religious traditions.

Members of the Kalash tribe are increasingly adopting lifestyles from other parts of Pakistan, but they continue to hold historical significance because of their distinct social customs and traditions. The tribe is globally recognised for its unique culture, language and religion.

According to historical accounts, the Kalash tribe is believed to be descended from soldiers of Alexander the Great who arrived through Afghanistan. The Kalash are considered among the world's oldest civilisations and continue to preserve their religion and culture despite modern developments.

The Kalash faith, known as Kalashism, is regarded as a blend of ancient Greek beliefs and Aryan traditions.