The Kalash people live in the mountains around the borders of China, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. These northern tribes are probably the original inhabitants of this area.
The Kalash people take much pride in their history and language and claim to have remained, for the most, independent throughout most of its history. The Kalash are also known as the Black Kafir, Chitrali, Chitralis, Citrali, Khowar, Koh, Qashqari, or the Qasqari. They speak Khowar.
The Kalash, as well as the other northern tribes, are known as brave, quiet, peace-loving people. Most live in rugged mountain regions, where farming is very difficult. They are mostly farmers and shepherds. Their primary crop is grain, however in the more irrigated areas they can raise barley, wheat, maize, millet and rice. They can only rely on one annual crop, so they must rely on transhumant herding, which means they must transfer their livestock from one place to another for grazing. During the summer, the livestock is herded to alpine areas.
It is only during the winter that the Kalash live together in compact villages. Many families have houses in four or five different areas at higher altitudes.
The Kalash are divided into three social classes. The upper class is the ruling nobility, the middle class tend to be landowners, and the lower-class work as tenant farmers or hired laborers. Most only marry within their own group. While the societies tend to be patrilineal, where the line of decent is traced through the men, the women are not as secluded as other groups within the country are. The women do much of the farm work.
The Kalash people are mostly Sunni Muslims; however, many combine the Islamic practices with their traditional folk religions. These practices involve the worship of spirits and fire, animism, and ancestor worship. Many consult shamans, priests, to cure the sick, communicate with spirits, and manipulate the spirits to control events. There are no known Christians or churches among the Kalash.
The Kalash are an isolated group due to the rugged terrain and political borders. Portable drinking water, sewage disposal, and drainage facilities are available for a small percentage of the northern tribe's population, which has led to many health problems. Poor nutrition is also a problem in their area.
Pray for loving workers to go to them and help with their physical needs.
Pray for the Lord to send a powerful gospel witness to the Kalash people in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Pray for them to have the spiritual hunger it takes to embrace Christ no matter what the cost.
Scripture Prayers for the Kalash (Chitrali) in Pakistan.
The World Missions Atlas Project
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Kalash (Chitrali) |
People Name in Country | Kalash (Chitrali) |
Alternate Names | चित्राली |
Population this Country | 28,000 |
Population all Countries | 39,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19437 |
ROP3 Code | 104950 |
ROP25 Code | 303982 |
ROP25 Name | Kho |
Country | Pakistan | ||
Region | Asia, South | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 1 |
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 28,000 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
100.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Pakistan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Khowar (25,000 speakers) | |||
Language Code | khw Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 3 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Khowar (25,000 speakers) |
Language Code | khw Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 3 |
Secondary Languages | |
Pashto, Northern 2,100 | |
Urdu 500 | |
People Groups | Speaking Khowar |
Primary Language: Khowar
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2021) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Khowar | Jesus Film Project |
Photo Source | Tahsin A Shah - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |