Infidelity; It is a historical region within the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan, covering the Nuristan Province. The people living in the region are called “Kalash”. The Kalash are quite different from the surrounding communities both in terms of their appearance and their way of life. The society where homosexuality is common is fond of alcohol and drugs. People who do not believe in tawhid have non-Muslim beliefs. For these reasons, they were declared a perverted society and called infidels. The region they lived in was called “Kafiristan”, meaning the land of the unbelievers.
the Kalash; It lives in the valleys known as Bamburet, Rumbur and Biriu, which are located between the 3,000-meter high mountains on Pakistan’s northwest Afghanistan border. They belong to the Kalash religion, which has traces of Shaman, Hellenic, Indian and Zoroastrian beliefs. The religious rituals, cultures, appearances and colorful clothing of the people who believe in polytheistic religion attract attention.
It is estimated that their lineage is based on Alexander the Great, as they are different from other peoples in every way. In fact, the term “lost lineage of Alexander” is used for the Kalash people. Alexander the Great; He set out to conquer Asia in the 2nd century BC, after staying in Afghanistan for two years, he died in the Hindu Kush Mountains while trying to move to China. The Macedonian army, which did not return to their country in this last expedition, remained in the region. Therefore, it is thought that the Kalash are the continuation of the Macedonian soldiers remaining in the region.
Interesting Traditions of the Kalash
The Kalash, who consider the sun and nature as two great gods, have very interesting traditions. Among its many traditions, the most interesting are funeral rites. They dance at funerals and give money to funeral owners because they believe that the deceased are going to a better place. The money collected is used for food and shopping, which will then be distributed to the public. It is considered an insult not to come to this meal, which is made after the deceased, without any excuse.
They do not bury the dead because they believe that the dead will return. In the region where most of the year is cold, the bodies are left on the ground in coffins. Funeral ceremonies in the temples in the village last 3 days. Due to the fact that the corpses are waiting in the open, bad smells occur in the cemeteries. At the same time, the coffins are broken into pieces by wild animals and bone fragments are scattered around. Since the visitors to the region complained about this situation, the bodies started to be buried. A bed made by knitting method is left on the graves.
The Kalash people believe in 12 prophets covering natural events and human behavior. The people, who believe that the four seasons are prophets, think that human emotions such as mercy and joy are also prophets. They usually worship in temples and festivals, which they organize several times a year according to seasonal events and the lunar calendar. The biggest Kalash Festival is held in honor of the arrival of winter and is held in December. In the festival, women and men wear their most special clothes, make up and dance, and sacrifices are made.
In a society where consanguineous marriage is strictly prohibited, women have a voice as much as men. Pregnant women are separated from their husbands for a week when the birth approaches and wait under the control of an elderly woman until they give birth in a separate house. After giving birth, the woman returns home after performing a ritual believed to restore purity. Boys, on the other hand, have the right to choose a mate when they reach puberty. While Kalash women have the right to divorce, men do not. A woman who wants to get married can propose to anyone she wants and pays bride price.
Changing Kafiristan to Nuristan
The entry of Muslims into Afghanistan began with the capture of the city of Herat, located in the west of the country, in 652. In 683, Kabul was conquered and Islamic armies entered the region completely. In the 10th century, the religion of Islam became more widespread in the country, which came under the rule of the Ghaznavids.
The region known as Kafiristan did not adopt the religion of Islam until the 20th century. The people of the region have adhered to their own religion for many years, which they created with ancient and local beliefs and which is also connected with Hinduism. The region, which has a different belief and a different culture, has closed its doors to other regions with the spread of the Islamic faith and has become isolated. Thus, they were recognized by the majority of the surrounding Muslim population as infidels, which means “infidels”.
The region’s name as an infidel continued until the period of Abdurrahman Khan, known as the Iron Emir, who started to rule the country centrally by providing unity in Afghanistan. Abdurrahman Khan organized expeditions on the infidels and enabled them to convert to Islam to a large extent. During the reign of Abdurrahman Khan, the name of the region was officially changed to Nuristan, that is, the land of light.
the Kalash; started to use technological tools together with the infrastructures coming to the region. Children began to attend modern schools, women married Muslim men, and there was a general conversion to Islam. Those who converted to Islam, on the other hand, left the Kafiristan due to their Kalash traditions and its population gradually decreased. The people of the region, known as Nuristan today, generally converted to Islam and adopted it. Very few people continue to practice their Kalash beliefs.
