reminders
i don't update this journal that often, so i'm going to start using it to remind myself of various topics of interest that i want to look into or study at some point. today's topic of interest:
The Kalasha of Chitral or simply Kalasha, are an ethnic group that lives in the Hindu Kush region of Pakistan. Their neighbors, the Nuristani call them Kasivo. The Kalasha of Chitral are probably an ancient Dard people who speak the Kalasha-mun language. Seemingly out of place in Central Asia, they are known to have light skin, eyes, and hair, similar to what one would find in Southern Europe. Many Kalash claim that they are the direct descendants of either Greek settlers, Alexander the Great's army, or even Alexander himself. The claims are questionable, as there is evidence of their existence before Alexander's invasion of the Persian Empire. The DNA evidence has also proven that they do not have Greek haplogroups. [1] One theory suggests that similarities in the culture of the Kalasha and Greek people stem from the expansion of Proto-Indo-Europeans.
It is important to note that there is no current connection between the Kalasha of Chitral and the Kalasha of Nuristan (former Kafiristan Kalasha). These two populations descend from different branches of the Indo-Iranians, a division that goes back some 5,000 years. According to linguist Richard Strand, a professional in this area, the people of Chitral apparently adopted the name of the former Kafiristan Kalasha, who at some unknown time extended their influence into Chitral. A reference for this assumption could be the names kâsv'o respectively kâsi'o, used by the neighboring Nuristani Kata and Kom for the Kalasha of Chitral. From these the earlier name kâs'ivo (instead Kalasha) could be derived.
There is still controversy over what defines the ethnic characteristics of the Kalasha. The Pakistani government estimates that there are only 2,550 people who continue to worship their polytheistic gods[2], while many thousands more have converted to Islam (whether genuinely or for economic and social gain), yet still live within the Kalasha villages and maintain their language.
and more here
The Kalasha of Chitral or simply Kalasha, are an ethnic group that lives in the Hindu Kush region of Pakistan. Their neighbors, the Nuristani call them Kasivo. The Kalasha of Chitral are probably an ancient Dard people who speak the Kalasha-mun language. Seemingly out of place in Central Asia, they are known to have light skin, eyes, and hair, similar to what one would find in Southern Europe. Many Kalash claim that they are the direct descendants of either Greek settlers, Alexander the Great's army, or even Alexander himself. The claims are questionable, as there is evidence of their existence before Alexander's invasion of the Persian Empire. The DNA evidence has also proven that they do not have Greek haplogroups. [1] One theory suggests that similarities in the culture of the Kalasha and Greek people stem from the expansion of Proto-Indo-Europeans.
It is important to note that there is no current connection between the Kalasha of Chitral and the Kalasha of Nuristan (former Kafiristan Kalasha). These two populations descend from different branches of the Indo-Iranians, a division that goes back some 5,000 years. According to linguist Richard Strand, a professional in this area, the people of Chitral apparently adopted the name of the former Kafiristan Kalasha, who at some unknown time extended their influence into Chitral. A reference for this assumption could be the names kâsv'o respectively kâsi'o, used by the neighboring Nuristani Kata and Kom for the Kalasha of Chitral. From these the earlier name kâs'ivo (instead Kalasha) could be derived.
There is still controversy over what defines the ethnic characteristics of the Kalasha. The Pakistani government estimates that there are only 2,550 people who continue to worship their polytheistic gods[2], while many thousands more have converted to Islam (whether genuinely or for economic and social gain), yet still live within the Kalasha villages and maintain their language.
and more here
