Kalash people

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Kalash

An ethnic Kalasha man wearing traditional hat.
Total population
ca. 10,000
Regions with significant populations
Chitral District
Languages
Kalash, Khowar and Urdu
Religion
Majority: Kalasha religion Minority: Islam[1]
Related ethnic groups
Kho people and Nuristani people

The Kalash (Nuristani: Kasivo) or Kalasha, are an ethnic group of the Hindu Kush mountain range. They live in the Chitral district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. They speak the Kalash language, a member of the Dardic language family of Indo-Aryan.

There are only about 10,000 Kalash people. The Kalash people live in three isolated valleys. They claim to have a Greek origin. The Kalash have a polytheist religion, while neighboring peoples are Muslims. The Kalash are also known for their human features. It can vary from someone with light brown skin, brown eyes, and black hair to someone with white skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair.

1. ↑ Ahmed, A.S., 1986. The Islamization of The Kalash Kafirs. Pakistan Society: Islam, Ethnicity and Leadership In South Asia. page 23-28.