The Kalasha people, known for their unique culture, celebrated their annual winter festival Chatar Mas, which concluded in the Bumburate valley, in the south of Chitral district. The concluding ceremony of Chatar Mas was held amid beating drums, dancing and singing religious songs by both male and female members of the Kalasha community.
According to local people, this year, two couples left their village of Birir and fled to another valley where they announce their wedding. As per the Kalash tribe's tradition, some girls wore boys' clothes while some boys wore girls' dress and danced together. A large number of tourists from different parts of the country as well as some foreign visitors had come to the valley to witness this unique cultural festival. Stringent security measures were taken by the local administration to thwart any untoward incident.
Every year, the Chatar Mas festival begins in the first week of December and continues for more than three weeks. This festival is celebrated to welcome the snow season as it motivates the Kalasha people to prepare for the tedious days they usually pass in hibernation inside their homes due to heavy snowfall in the valley. A group of volunteers including men and women go into seclusion during the last seven days and reside inside the cattle houses and consume the meat of goats slaughtered for the occasion. This ritual is called 'autik' in local language and the volunteers remain secluded also from their family members.
They come out on the last day of the festival and join the concluding ceremony where they are warmly greeted. Young boys and girls usually choose and pick their life partners during this festival. During the Chatar Mas festival, the Kalasha people do not allow outsiders to visit the valley without the last 3 days. The outsiders' entrance into the main area of the village and talking to a Kalasha person is strictly prohibited as per their beliefs. One is bound to take a bath in the cold water of the stream to cleanse him or herself if found talking to other people during the festival.
The Kalasha people are settled in three valleys of Bumburate, Rumbur and Birir in Chitral. These people celebrate more than four festivals in a year marking each season with a distinct festival. They celebrate Joshi festival in May to welcome spring.
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