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PAKISTAN KALASH FESTIVAL Although we have offered smidgeons of travel in PAKISTAN before, for many years we have not operated a full tour. Northern Pakistan is very beautiful, with wonderfully scenic mountains and valleys and wonderfully hospitable people. We all are aware of the political problems in the region. However, these are sadly becoming more common throughout this part of Asia, and Central Asia in general and should not deter us.
The Kalash have four colourful festivals. To the Kalash these festivals are the culmination of religious life and, like the big funerals, they unite the people.  Joshi /Chilimjusht - The Spring Festival This festival takes place in the middle of May and lasts for four days. It honours the fairies and also safeguards the goats and shepherds before they go to the pastures. Before the festival the women and girls gather from all over the valley and decorate their houses. Inside the houses local wine and milk products are shared The women then sprinkle milk on the goddess Jestak, the protector of their children and home. The festival begins at Rumbur where the Shaman and tribal chiefs lead a procession to the Malosh altar, high above Grum and sacrifice goats to the Gods. Later, the festival moves on to Bumboret and finally ends up at Birir. The first day of Joshi, "Milk Day", is celebrated in Bumboret. Kalash ladies move from homestead to homestead, singing and dancing and receiving libations of milk that have been saved for ten days prior to the festival. Every religious ceremony is accompanied by dancing and rhythmical chanting to a beat of the drum. The women, wearing their traditional black robes, ornate cowries shell head-dresses and countless strands of coloured necklaces, dance in a circle. Then the men join in: it may be a man and a women or a man in the middle with a women on each side, lovers being free to intermingle. One hand holds the waist of the partner and the other goes around the shoulders. Elders in colourful dresses narrate stories of bygone days and events. We will spend 4 nights in Rumbur Valley, staying at the Saifullah Guesthouse. Rumbur is rugged and majestic; the mountain ridges are high and the river is wild. With its sparkling streams, shady meadows, groves of mulberry, apricot and walnut trees and yellow and green fields it is a beautiful, picturesque area. As there are few tourists, the Kalasha are less shy and less nervous, and no one objects, if asked, to having their photograph taken. Only seldom does the sound of jeeps destroy the peaceful silence of the valley. At the top end of the valley there is a Nuristani village. Following our visit to the festivals, we travel on to Mastuj and beyond, exploring mountain forts, redolent of early British Colonial history, sleepy Hunza villages and towns, and touch the evocative Karakorum Highway before returning to Islamabad.  Kalash Festival 15 Day All Inclusive Ground Tour Trip including 4 days at the Kalash Festival May 12th - 26th 2010 Cost - £1850 plus flights
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