Origin

The Kalasha community is one of the most unique religious and social minority groups in South Asia, with a history spanning over 3,000 years. Known globally among social anthropologists, they are celebrated for their distinct culture, customs, rituals, and a polytheistic religion. Due to the lack of a written history, the origins of the Kalasha remain uncertain and contentious among researchers and historians. Gul (2010) mentions that there are several theories about the origin of Kalasha; some reckon them to be the descendants of Dionysus (the Greek god of wine and son of Zeus) however there is a popular belief among the Kalasha community that they are the decedents of the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Trail (1996) proposes.

Some historians believe that Kalasha are indigenous tribes of the neighboring Nuristan area of Afghanistan; they came to this part of the world from ‘Tsiyam’ in South Asia (Rehman, 2011). In 1895, following the conquest of Nuristan by Amir Abdul Rahman, the forced conversion led to migration of some of the Kalasha community. Professor G. Morgenstierne (1923-1926) presented a theory based on Kalashas’ archaic language, religion and their physical features. He states that Kalasha is the only Indo-European Aryan tribe that has been able to preserve an illiterate religion. Based on the physical traits of Kalasha, this theory has also been supported by Khan (1980). The two studies suggest that Kalasha are aboriginals to the Hindu Kush region with a genetic contribution from Aryans and then Macedonian invaders in the region.

Population of Kalash Valleys