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2-3 stars hotels (in some places best available)
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Islamabad
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Islamabad
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Guided
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English
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Breakfast, lunch and dinner (normally included)
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Yes
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Transportation: Car or Van/ grand Cabin 13 seats or Coaster/minibus, 21seats
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16
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75
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1 - 14
CHAMUS FESTIVAL KALASH VALLEY TOUR
The Chamus Festival in the Kalash Valley is a significant cultural event celebrated by the Kalash people, who are a unique Indigenous group residing in the Chitral District of Pakistan. The festival typically takes place in winter from 7 7th to 22 December, the end of the year, as well as the end of the fieldwork and harvest. During the Chamus Festival, the Kalash people engage in various traditional rituals, dances, and festivities. One of the central features of the festival is the offering of milk to their gods and ancestors as a symbol of gratitude for the bountiful harvest. This ritual is accompanied by lively music and dancing, with men and women dressed in colorful traditional attire.
At Chaumos, impure persons are not admitted; they must be purified by a waving firebrand over women and children and by a special fire ritual for men, involving a shaman waving juniper brands over the men. The ‘old rules’ of the gods (Devalog, dewalōk) are no longer in force, as is typical for year-end and carnival-like rituals. The main Chaumos ritual takes place at a Tok tree called Indra’s place, “undrunk”. Indrunkot is sometimes believed to belong to Balumain’s brother, In (dr), lord of cattle. Ancestors,
impersonated by young boys (ōn jeṣṭa ‘pure’) are worshipped and offered bread; they hold on to each other and form a chain and snake through the village The festival also serves as an occasion for the Kalash community to come together, strengthen social bonds, and showcase their rich cultural heritage to visitors. Tourists
and anthropologists alike are often drawn to the Kalash Valley during this time to witness and participate in the festivities, providing an opportunity for cultural exchange and appreciation.
CHAMUS FESTIVAL KALASH VALLEY TOUR Higlights
- Seasonal Significance: Chawmos is celebrated to welcome the onset of winter and to honor the gods for the fruitful harvest. The festival occurs around mid-December and is a joyous occasion for the Kalash community.
- Rituals and Offerings: Religious rituals form the heart of the celebration, where the Kalash people make offerings to their deities, particularly to the god Balumain, who is believed to visit the valley during this time. The offerings include food, milk, and bread, and prayers are chanted to seek blessings for the new year.
- Dance and Music: Traditional dances and music are an integral part of the festival. Men and women gather in a circle and perform the Kalash dance, characterized by rhythmic movements and accompanied by folk songs and drum beats. These dances symbolize unity and joy.
- Bonfires and Celebrations: Large bonfires are lit, around which the Kalash people dance and sing. The fire symbolizes warmth and life during the cold winter months. People wear their finest traditional dresses, adorned with colorful beads and headgear, adding to the festival’s visual vibrancy.
- Religious Processions: Processions are held to various sacred sites in the valley. Priests and elders lead these processions, chanting prayers and performing rituals to bless the community for the upcoming year.
