Kalash Valley
The Soul, Pearl and Beauty of Hindu Kush Mountains
People with 100% Mental Health
Pakistan is a land of vibrant diversity, with each hue representing a unique world. The Kalasha are a religious, ethnic, and linguistic minority community in Pakistan. They are indigenous people living in remote valleys of the Hindu Kush Mountains in northern Pakistan, neighboring Afghanistan. The Valley, adorned with waterfalls, springs, lakes, apricots, and plums, stands out globally for its natural beauty, unique culture, and cheerful people. The Kalash tribe is spread across three valleys: Bumburet, Rumbur, and Birir. These valleys are flanked by rugged mountains and traversed by emerald-green mountain streams, with cornfields and fragrant walnut and apricot trees lining their banks.
Natural Environment and Beauty: The natural landscapes and environment of the Kalash Valley provide its residents with a peaceful life, free from daily worries and troubles. The valley is surrounded by lush green mountains, which not only offer breathtaking views but also maintain a temperate climate. These mountains display different colors in each season. Vibrant flowers bloom in the spring, while snow-covered peaks create a picturesque scene in the winter.
Flowing streams and clear water springs enhance the natural beauty of the valley. These streams originate from the mountains and flow through the valley, offering a sense of tranquility to those who sit by their banks. The air in the Kalash Valley is clean and fresh, maintained by dense forests and green mountains, making it invigorating to breathe.
Social System and Culture: The Kalash people have been celebrating three major festivals for centuries: Choimus, Chilim Joshi, and Uchao.
Choimus: This winter festival begins with prayers for the coming year to be prosperous and peaceful. It includes religious ceremonies, mass marriages, and other interesting rituals.
Chilim Joshi: Celebrated in spring, this festival brings the entire community together in a specific field, where women sing and dance until sunset.
Uchao: According to tradition, the Kalash people refrain from consuming fruits and grains from June to August 20, preserving them instead. When August 20 arrives, they celebrate the harvest with the Uchao festival, also known as the Harvest Festival.
Factor of Happiness, Mental Health, Acceptance among Kalash Valley People, and its Causes: The Kalash people are considered among the happiest in the world, a subject extensively researched globally. Research on “Mental Health Conceptualization and Resilience Factors in the Kalasha Youth” by Miriam Sang-Ah Park in 2018 suggests a ratio of zero mental health issues in community living in this valley. As per the results of research after interviewing 200 individuals of valley it is revealed that the reasons behind their mental health is resilience, acceptability and freedom of choice. In short their living pattern and interfaith harmony developed peace in their social groups and leads to a happy mentally healthy people. The intra-communal bonding and sharing culture among Kalasha youth is the most frequently discussed factor in this research that contributes to their well-being and serves as a cultural protective factor against mental health issues (both minor and severe). They do not only own their culture with pride, but also consider their communal bonding and culture of generosity as important factors that make them resilient. At the conceptual level, their positive identification with sharing and their strong bonding culture shows their contentment with their cultural identity. During discourse analysis some of their verbatims are below:
“Kalasha are our own people and we live together, when there is any problem, we help each other.”
“We are stress-free and it is because of the environment. Here, air is pollution free, food is organic, life is peaceful and we share sorrow of each other, we help in healing any grief and we focus on happiness.”
“What is unique and special about Kalasha is that here there is more unity among people and we live by helping each other.”
“We all live like a family, there is no hatred between us, no religious conflicts with neighboring communities and we believe in sharing.”
“It’s (Kalasha) a very peaceful religion, we all live with love here and I like it a lot, we have freedom of choice, but we ask from family as well. We believe in sharing and discussing with them but the good thing is that the elders/family do not force us, so yes this is the reason that we are strong against psychological problems.”
“There is a sense of sharing and emotional sharing which is like you are not left alone to suffer something so in this sharing culture the chances of developing something psychologically are limited.”
The young Kalashas are certain about their community’s well-being as they considered their community generally and Kalasha youth specifically, having less chances of developing mental health problems and they attributed their mental well-being to their culture of sharing and connecting with each other. This shows that young Kalasha tend to have high cohesiveness and congenial interpersonal relationships. This theme of intra-communal bonding and sharing reflects the microsystemic approach, if we look at the participants’ quotes in the context of Bronfenbrenner’s systems. Also, the above quotes refer to the mesosystemic interactions between Kalasha youth and the neighboring communities and we can ascertain the intimate kinship patterns, yet autonomous practices of Kalasha family.
Family and Social Harmony: The Kalash people highly value family and social bonds. These strong connections provide them with mental peace and happiness. A study on the mental health and coping abilities of the Kalash youth found that they take initiatives for community welfare and attribute their mental development to their cultural interactions and connections. Sharing each other’s sorrows is taught from childhood and is a part of their culture.
Community Support: In case of a family death, the entire tribe arranges food for the grieving family, each person contributing a small amount to help during the difficult time. A local, Akbar Khan explains that deceased individuals are entrusted to God through dance, with men and women participating in the dance, celebrating the deceased person’s life.
Cultural Tolerance and Religious Freedom: The Kalash people are known for their liberal and progressive outlook on life. A local primary school teacher, Salahuddin, mentions that despite his parents belonging to Kalasha religion, he converted to Islam without any opposition from his tribe, which reflects their religious freedom and respect.
Gender Equality: The women of Kalash are a tale of colors, simplicity and struggle. Kalash women enjoy a level of freedom and equality uncommon in broader societies. They can choose their husbands, seek divorce, and are considered equal to men in many aspects of life. The ‘Rat Nat festival’ is a time when boys and girls extend friendship to each other, and marriages depend solely on mutual consent without parental objections.
Community Living: The Kalash people often work together and support each other, fostering a sense of belonging and mental strength. Women gather for handicrafts, which are renowned throughout Pakistan and the world.
Spirituality and Simple Lifestyle: The strong spiritual beliefs and close relationship with nature contribute to the mental well-being of the Kalash people. Their simple lifestyle keeps them away from anxiety, deprivation, and other worries.
Natural Diet and Physical Activities: The Kalash people consume a natural and simple diet, beneficial for their physical health. They eat organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, providing essential nutrients. Living in mountainous regions, physical activities are a part of their daily lives, benefiting their physical and mental health. Men engage in farming, labor, shepherding, and sports, while women also assist in farming, which keeps them physically active.
Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Kalash Valley in 2019 and were mesmerized to watch the unique culture, tradition and dance in the stunning valley. The Royal couple visited Bombaret village and were accorded warm welcome by the Kalash known for their hospitality.
These characteristics not only keep the people of Kalash happy but also portray a positive image of Pakistan. Every year, especially during festivals, a large number of tourists from other parts of Pakistan and around the world visit the valley, amazed by its beauty, social harmony, cheerfulness, and mental health of its people. Another reflection is that Pakistan as being a peaceful land not only let kalasha community live but also provides security, acceptance and communal acceptability.
Despite being located at the bordering area with Afghanistan, state of Pakistan has ensured peace in the region and minority Kalasha community having population of approximately 4000 is enjoying safety and security. This is a fascinating fact that since independence of Pakistan, Kalasha valley has not witnessed even a single terrorism incident. Adopting these traits in other parts of Pakistan could promote social harmony and prosperity. The positive aspects of the Kalash Valley serve as a beacon for people in other regions of Pakistan, showing how the factors of religious freedom, acceptance, respect for differing opinions, and mutual understanding can lead to a fulfilling and satisfying life.
