Who are the Kalasha people of Chitral?

The Kalasha people of Chitral are a distinct ethnic group residing in the Hindu Kush region. Historically, they were grouped with the Nuristani people under the term "Kafir," a pejorative label meaning "infidel" that has since been reconsidered.1

Their ethnic individuality is most notably expressed through their religion, as they practice a form of polytheism that contrasts with the predominant Islamic faith of the region. Their religious traditions include animal sacrifice, shamanistic divination, and communal dancing.1

Culturally and economically, the Kalasha share similarities with their neighbors:
* Language: They speak a language often classified as Dardic.1
* Economy: Their livelihood is centered on agriculture and the raising of goats and oxen.1
* Architecture: They reside in sturdy, rectangular wooden buildings.1
* Traditions: Historically, the Kalasha practiced unique burial customs, placing the dead in wooden coffins above ground and erecting large wooden statues of ancestors near graveyards.1