Kalash

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kalash

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Kalash. Small Whale. https://smallwhale.org/articles/kalash. Accessed 2026-09-23. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who are the Kalash people?The Kalash are a small group of about 3,000 to 4,000 people who live in three valleys—Bumburet, Rumbur, and Birir—in the Chitral District of Pakistan. They have unique traditions, colorful clothes, and a distinct culture that sets them apart from nearby communities.
2. What makes the Kalash hats so special?Women in the Kalash community wear large headdresses called kupás. These hats are decorated with cowrie shells, beads, and bright tassels, and they show a woman's status and whether she is ready for marriage.

Kalash: An indigenous ethnic group in Pakistan's Hindu Kush mountains, renowned for their unique religion, language, and traditions.
Hindu Kush: A major mountain range in Central and South Asia, providing a historically isolated environment for the Kalash people.
Chilam Joshi: The primary Kalash festival, a week-long spring celebration involving music, dance, and rituals to welcome new life and fertility.
Khowar: The Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Kalash people, reflecting their unique linguistic heritage.