Archive
Sediments
- Value Adaptation
- Age
- Nature Products
- Location
- Vallery yasin
Rockfall
- Value Adaptation
- Age
- Nature Process
- Location
- Vallery yasin
Rockfall
Value
Adaptation
Nature
Process
Risk
High
Genesis
Rockfall is one of the greatest threat throughout the valley. Huge boulders roll down the mountain slopes and are not only a constant threat to some of the assets but have also been devastating during the past as well. In some places in Kharmang village, huge boulders have dismantled and rolled down the mountain slope, forming shelters that are used by community members. During times of war, these shelters were used by people as hide outs to protect enemies and intense winters.
Juniper Forest
- Value Adaptation
- Age
- Nature Practice
- Location Bumburaite
- Vallery kalash
Willow garden
- Value Cache
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Birir
- Vallery kalash
Altars
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Birir, Bumburaite, Ramboor
- Vallery kalash
Graveyards Krakaal (Mandan'Jaw)
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Practice
- Location Krakal, Bumburaite
- Vallery kalash
Graveyards Krakaal (Mandan'Jaw)
Value
Attachment
Location
Krakal, Bumburaite
Nature
Practice
Risk
High
Genesis
Mandan'Jaw which literally means Group of Coffins is the burial place where traditionally coffins were uncovered; dead bodies were dressed up in best clothes & jewelry and sometimes items like honey cheese wine was also kept with them incase the dead person's spirit would want to use them. Due to thefts and security threats the Kalasha people have started covering the coffins or burying the coffins underground; if a person is buried underground a sleeping cot is put upside over it to mark end of his/her time from the world. This graveyard is used by entire Birir and one can still see open graves here.
Voice of Community
We now bury the dead.
Dancing hall
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Practice
- Location Various
- Vallery kalash
Dancing hall
Value
Attachment
Location
Various
Nature
Practice
Genesis
These spaces are used by the Kalasha community for performing dances during festivals.
Voice of Community
Dancing halls are important for us and we have one in every village.
Bashali
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Practice
- Location Various
- Vallery kalash
Bashali
Value
Attachment
Location
Various
Nature
Practice
Genesis
Kalasha women go to specified maternity homes during menstruation and for childbirth (40 days since childbirth); the community has a strong concept of pure and impure thus impure women leave the houses to go to Bhashali; on the other hand
Voice of Community
women see it as a community space where they can rest and hang out with friends. Bhashalis are considered impure spaces yet they are built in the village centers; every village has its own Bhashali. A pure person can neither enter Bhashali nor touch a woman inside Bhashali.
Seasonal prediction
- Value Abandonment
- Age
- Nature Practice
- Location Various
- Vallery kalash
Seasonal prediction
Value
Abandonment
Location
Various
Nature
Practice
Risk
High
Genesis
The seasonal predictions are based on the position of the sun and direction of winds. Certain elderly people in the community are well versed in seasonal predictions, however, this knowledge is threatened due to the effects of climate change resulting in erratic rainfall patterns and dry spells.
Voice of Community
In the recent past, we have not been able to predict the floods, perhaps someone from the community performed a forbidden act which led to this catastrophe.
Flash floods (Zinor)
- Value Adaptation
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Bumburaite
- Vallery kalash
Flash floods (Zinor)
Value
Adaptation
Location
Bumburaite
Nature
Product
Risk
High
Genesis
The glacier (name to be added) in the higher mountains of Kalash valley is experiencing rapid melting. This along with the intense short rainfall spells is resulting in flash flooding - locally called as Zinor - a symbol of devastation for the Kalasha people. In recent years, the intensity and frequency of flooding is said to have increased and is causing a heavy toll of socio-economic losses.
Voice of Community
Whenever we need to build something by the riverside, we have to seek permission from Zinor, otherwise we see its wrath.
Landslide (loose earth)
- Value Adaptation
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Birir
- Vallery kalash
Landslide (loose earth)
Value
Adaptation
Location
Birir
Nature
Product
Risk
High
Genesis
The glacier (name to be added) in the higher mountains of Kalash valley is experiencing rapid melting. This along with the intense short rainfall spells is resulting in flash flooding - locally called as Zinor - a symbol of devastation for the Kalasha people. In recent years, the intensity and frequency of flooding is said to have increased and is causing a heavy toll of socio-economic losses.
Seven witches
- Value Cache
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Birir
- Vallery kalash
Seven witches
Value
Cache
Location
Birir
Nature
Product
Risk
Low
Genesis
Seven witches who are sisters each dwell in the streams. They had long hair, one breast in front and one in back, and they had long teeth/fangs. In old days they used to eat people. But then one man passing through drank milk from one of the witch. This witch then asked the other sisters to forgive or leave mankind alone. They agreed in exchange for a yearly sacrifice. So from that point onwards there is a yearly sacrifice of a goat for these sisters.
Voice of Community
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