Does a Place Called Kafiristan Really Exist?

A place called Kafiristan still exists today. Kafiristan; We can define it within the borders of Nuristan Province of Afghanistan and Khyber Province of Pakistan. But the people living in Kafiristan are not called Kafirs, they are called Kalash.

The name Kafiristan refers to the region where the Kalash live; It was given by Muslims because the predominant population in the neighboring regions is Muslim. Kafiristan literally means the land of the unbelievers. Because of the Kalash’s fondness for alcohol and their non-Muslim beliefs, Muslims called this region Kafiristan, and in time the name of the region remained Kafiristan. Even though the name of the region was officially changed to Nuristan during the reign of Abdurrahman Khan, also known as the Iron Emir in later times, the region is still known as Kafiristan.

Where did the Kalash come from, where are they going?

Just as the society living in Kafiristan is called the Kalash, their belief is also called the Kalash Faith. Although the Kalash Faith has been influenced by beliefs such as Shamanism, Zoroastrianism, and Hinduism, it has many differences from these beliefs. In short, the general principle of their faith is to worship the Sun and Nature.

The lineage of the Kalash was thought to date back to Alexander the Great until recently. It is for this reason that many investigations have been made in the region. Especially Greek researchers have made very serious research investments in the region. In recent genetic studies, it has gained weight that the Kalash are from the Caucasian lineage. According to a strong rumor, the Kalash people are descended from the Macedonians who migrated to the present-day Kafiristan Region during Alexander the Great’s Indian campaign.

They perform a jewelry ceremony and dance halay at the funeral.

The traditions of the Kalash, who live in the valleys where it is difficult to reach geographically, are far from us. The most striking tradition is to wear jewelery and dance halay at the funeral.

In the funeral ceremonies of the Kalash, the bodies are not buried, they are left open to the ground. The reason of this; a body buried in the ground; According to the Kalash belief, on the day of the resurrection, he will not be able to get up from the ground and go to heaven. In order for the deceased to reach heaven easily on the day of resurrection, nails are not nailed and soil is not thrown into the coffins, they are left in the cemetery area. In funeral ceremonies, money and jewelry are attached to the members of the funeral home, just as in weddings. These coins are used by the condolence house as an expense at the funeral dinner. There is an enthusiastic dance during the funeral ceremony. The reason for this is the belief that the deceased is sent off to eternal happiness.

They look at the seasons and emotions with a divine eye

In the Kalash Faith, each of the four seasons is seen as a prophet. In addition, they accept some emotions such as mercy, joy and surprise as prophets. A separate prayer is held for each season. The most famous of these worships is the worship called Josi Mela. This religious ceremony held in the first days of spring; It is one of the rare ceremonies open to tourists. In the Josi Mela Ceremony held in honor of the arrival of spring, a sacrifice is made. Women’s faces; They make make-up from the horn, oil and blood of the sacrificed victim.

A society that values ​​women

The Kalash are a matriarchal society, though not exactly. While men have the right to choose a spouse when getting married; They do not have the right to divorce. The right to divorce is a right granted only to women. Women have to pay bride price in order to marry a man they like. Kalash women also attach great importance to their beauty. Even on an ordinary day, they prefer fancy clothes, bold make-up and lots of jewelry.

Women spend every menstrual period and the last week of their pregnancy in houses called basalini. We can partially compare the Başalen houses to the women’s shelters today, but differently, the Başaleli houses in the Kalash are designed to make women feel more comfortable. A woman in the Başalen house cannot meet any man in this process. There are also experienced midwives in these houses to assist the Kalash Women.

They have been experiencing a serious cultural degeneration in recent years.

There was no electricity in the area until recently. The electricity need of the region was provided by the water mills, but with the influence of the state that entered the region recently, the electricity and hot water needs were met. In addition, modern schools were opened in the region due to the cultural researches of Greece. However, cultural degeneration in Kafiristan has also accelerated. After the education they received, the young people left the region on the grounds of university education.

the Kalash; With the infrastructures coming to the region, they started to use telephones, televisions and computers. Women marry Muslim men, children attend modern schools, and there is a general conversion to Islam. The population of the region is gradually decreasing as people who converted to Islam due to Kalash traditions had to leave Kafiristan. State oppression, living in a predominantly Muslim environment and investments in the region are cited as reasons for this great cultural corruption in Kafiristan.

So, have you heard of Kafiristan before and what did you know about the Kalash?