The Kalasha Pantheon: Unveiling the Spiritual Heritage of an Ancient People
Keywords:
Kalasha, minorities, pagan tribe, Kalasha religion, shamanismAbstract
The Kalasha people are the small tribe of indigenous people living in the isolated valleys of Chitral, Pakistan, who have kept the ancient polytheistic faith in an overwhelmingly Islamic region. This article is my humble step forward to highlight the diverse and indeed colourful spiritual realm of the Kalasha people via their dominant gods, their ceremonies, and their shrines. Starting with the general information concerning the Kalasha community the article goes through the mountain spirits and prehistoric religious belief systems that formed the basis for the Kalasha’s beliefs and values. Some of the basic deities like Dezau – the Creator God, Sajigor of the Rumbur Valley, Mahandeo, the Kalasha guardian deity and other guardian deities like Dezalik and Jestak who are considered to be the protectors of women and families are also considered here. It goes on to do so by discussing the guest god Balumain and enigma like deities Praba and Warin to underline the sophistication of the Kalasha spiritual system. These should be seen as aspects and measures of a cosmology which is genuinely nature-based, community-oriented, and spiritual. Though the Kalasha religion gives the best accounts of the ancient beliefs and practicing culture, the faith is under severe pressure as it comes in contact with other cultures and civilizations. Due to this, in this article, I hope to give a clear explanation of the Kalasha pantheon and why this area of spirituality is important, as well as the reason that they should be saved before they disappear completely.
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