Chawmos Festival – Chanja Rat: The Kalash Rituals Still Alive to This Day

Chanja Rat is the day of the big bonfire to bid farewell to Balimain, and it can be considered the climax of the Chawmos Festival. Even people from other villages come to take part in the Tchattai ceremony from early morning.

Young girls all dressed up in the morning.

People visiting from other villages. The men will then head to Sajigor to perform the Tali Histik ritual.

The women who cannot participate in the ceremony chat in the square among themselves. They also partake in recreational singing and dancing.

Tali Histik – Pray for the prosperity

Tali Histik is a ritual where people pray for the prosperity of the Kalash and for the birth of more boys. A willow tree branch—of which said tree luckily has many—is prepared for each male member of the family. It is said that the many small branches give the image of a family with many children. If there are 10 men in a given family, an additional branch is added to make a total of 11, at which point the male representative of the family throws the whole bundle. Among the number of men counted are the boys who just completed their passage rites the day before.

The men getting ready to throw the branches.

The willow branches are thrown all at once towards the altar.

On their return from Sajigor, the men made their way toward the square while forming a line with their hands on each other’s shoulders.

In the square, people chat and the Chawmos songs and dances continue. In the afternoon, they take a short break in preparation for the evening’s torches and bonfire.

Chanja Rat – The big bonfire to bid farewell to Balimain

Finally, the climax of the Chawmos Festival, the great bonfire to bid farewell to Balemain, takes place. The actual experience of the chanja rat was truly a “ceremony of fire”, both fantastic and full of vitality.

After sunset, large pieces of wood for the bonfire are carried to the square.

The girls sing around the bonfire while waiting for the torches to be brought.

People carrying torches begin to descend from the village on the mountain.

People coming down the mountain carrying torches.

Groups of people merge, and the light of the torches grows stronger.

People carrying torches head for the square.

The fantastic sight of the Kalash holding torches.

When they arrive at the square, they throw the torches into the bonfire, fueling the fire and making it grow huge.

People singing and dancing around the fire.

For the Kalash people, Chawmos is the festival they enjoy most the whole year.

Chanja Rat: bidding farewell to Balimain.

Witnessing Chanja Rat that night proved to be a dreamlike experience for me. Seeing the Chawmos festival for yourself is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your understanding of Kalash traditions and faith.

Text: Mariko SAWADA

Photo: Mariko SAWADA & Jamil

Visit: Dec 2024, Kalash Valley – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

＊The information presented here is based on interviews with people in the area. Please note that the descriptions and explanations of the rituals may differ depending on the source.

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＊Contact us, Indus Caravan for more information or to make arrangements for visiting Kalash valley.

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